Palliative care should be offered from diagnosis of a life-limiting condition or from determination that curative treatment for a life-threatening condition is not an option; however, each child is different and care should be tailored to the individual.

There are considered to be the 4 groups of children for whom palliative care is needed:
1. Children with life-threatening conditions for which curative treatment may be possible but may fail. Palliative care may be necessary during periods when prognosis is uncertain and when treatment fails. Children who have had successful curative treatment or who are in long-term remission are not included.
2. Children with conditions where there may be long periods of intensive treatment aimed at prolonging life and allowing participation in normal childhood activities but where death could still occur.
3. Children with progressive conditions, without the possibility of a cure. Palliative care of these children may be for many years.
4. Children with conditions not usually considered progressive, but which may cause weakness and make children more vulnerable to complications. These children may deteriorate unpredictably.

See reference for more information.

Adapted from Ministry of Health. 2015. New Zealand Palliative Care Glossary. Internet. Accessed on September 3, 2016.