The right to maximum pain relief
The fundamental principle of responsible medical care is “do no harm.” Because pain is harmful, health care professionals
are bound to use all available means of relieving pain unless the process of relieving pain would cause more harm.
Achieving maximum pain relief for your child may require a certain amount of advocacy. Advocacy begins with good communication
among the child, the parents, and health care professionals. Parents should have a good understanding of the situation and
what is expected. If, as a parent, you do not feel that you are sufficiently informed, you should ask.
If you feel your child has not had sufficient pain relief, speak to the health care professionals involved. Parents should
be informed of and understand the process of finding the most effective combination of pain relieving techniques. Sometimes,
finding the best combination takes time.
If painful procedures are to be performed on your child, you should ask what steps will be taken to before the procedure to
pre-empt or relieve the expected pain.
