Individuals and their families confronting life-threatening illnesses endure several emotional and social challenges alongside physical suffering. This process requires a holistic approach to care that addresses children's individual developmental needs, the intricacies of family dynamics, and the multifaceted aspects of quality of life, surpassing conventional medical methods. Pediatric palliative care is a comprehensive approach designed to enhance the quality of life for children with severe and intricate medical conditions and their families. This method entails comprehensively addressing the child's physical, emotional, and spiritual requirements while offering continuous support to the family. Symptom management aims to maintain the individual's personal integrity and enhance their quality of life. Physical and psychological symptoms are consistently evaluated and efficiently addressed throughout the progression of the disease. Palliative care necessitates a multidisciplinary team to meet the demands that may emerge from the illness. Incorporating a child development professional within this team is essential. Child development specialists are anticipated to engage in educating the family and child, delivering family-centered care, facilitating therapeutic play, offering essential psychosocial support to the child and family within child life services, addressing the child's educational requirements, and employing non-pharmacological approaches (such as bedside activities and games) for pain management.

This section initially addresses the definition, scope, practice models, and core principles of palliative care. It subsequently delineates the attributes that differentiate pediatric palliative care from adult palliative care, the scenarios necessitating palliative care for pediatric patients, and the obligations of the palliative care team. The function of the child development profession in pediatric palliative care is examined.