Family Meeting: Being Prepared

Over the course of your child’s illness there will likely be family meetings proposed by different clinicians. These meetings may be used as a way to present clinical updates, consider decisions about interventions, check in about how family members are coping, and/or address any questions you or the care team might have. Optimally, your child’s medical team, specialists and/or pediatrician will engage you in multiple conversations over time. Sometimes, however, you will need to make relatively quick decisions, especially if your child’s condition worsens. Your initial, and then ongoing, input will help the clinicians make recommendations and decide with you which interventions and plans of care are most consistent with your goals and values.