Concept of apartment-sharing groups for children and adolescents treated with long-term ventilation
Schwerdt, M.
Medizinische Klinik 94(Special Issue 1): 77-80
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0723-5003 PMID: 10373744 Document Number: 504809
Children on long-term ventilation without adequate support have already been a topic of reports a few times. An inquiry conducted by the Vestische Kinderklinik confirmed this for 14 patients on ventilation in the area of Westfalen-Lippe. According to estimates in the weekly magazine "Der Spiegel" there are about 200 affected children and adolescents. Even in situations of continuous pressure, basic human needs and rights are not to be neglected, they are to be taken into consideration at each medical, therapeutic and pedagogic intervention. From such a "holistic" point of view the living surroundings of those patients should not be exclusively or mainly defined by ICU needs. Even more, due to the development in intensive care medicine, there should be the possibility of a compromise under "regular living circumstances", ensuring an optimal cooperation of medical "life-security" as well as psychological (including the family) and pedagogical guidance and help. With the concept of "flat sharing groups for ventilated children and adolescents" we promote a complex model that seems to be able to fulfil the requirements stated above. The idea of integration as well as the paradigm of "self-determined life" should be taken into account.