Advances in pediatric palliative medicine in the United States

Over the past decade, pediatric palliative medicine in the United States has advanced to a remarkable degree. This article situates these changes in the general context of the growth of adult-focused palliative medicine, and enumerates several landmark reports, studies, programmatic initiatives, and professional developments that serve as milestones marking the progress of the field, while also underscoring the continuing need to better educate families and health care providers about what pediatric palliative care can offer patients, to expand the evidence base regarding specific pediatric palliative care interventions, and to further our abilities to finance and improve these services.