Young people and truth telling

Having open, honest, and clear communication channels with a patient is a key component for patient-centred care, which can in turn facilitate the delivery of high quality nursing care. Providing young people with the correct information about their condition can help maximise the person's autonomy. This chapter aims to explore what good practice is and how the children's nurse can enhance best practice by examining key points which should be considered when caring for a young person with a terminal illness. A framework is useful in assessing the nature of a dilemma, for example the DECIDE model. In this chapter, the framework will reflect the steps in the nursing process: assess, plan, implement, and evaluate. A scenario and guidance notes are used to illustrate and explore crucial ethical points. It details a case study which presents an example of truth telling.