Abstract

In pediatric healthcare, there is a recognized need to address social determinants of health (SDOH) to positively influence child health and development. In addition, family-centred care (FCC) recognizes the value of the family unit in affecting individual patient experiences of illness and care. However, pediatric healthcare that incorporates principles of FCC and SDOH may be interpreted as calling on clinicians to deviate from or add to practices that form an accepted standard of care. This paper explores the legal and ethical considerations of doing so and describes practical responses to these challenging situations.