Study on heteronomy in the health care to children and adolescents with special needs

Abstract

This study aimed to understand, from a bioethical concept of heteronomy, the relationship between a health professional and children or teenagers with special needs concerning decisionmaking process faced by professionals when attending patients with different disability levels. Ten professionals that assist these patients in specialized public service participated of the semistructured interview, allowing the analysis of six thematic axes: discussion about the treatment; communication between the health professional and the patient; participation of the person with special needs (PSN) in decisions; differences in health care; difficulties faced by health professionals; and participation of third parties. Most professionals agree that a PSN should take part on the discussions about the intervention; although the later does participate in the decision-making related to intervention. Conflict situations in view of third parties participation in the professional-PSN relationship were referred. Findings show that there is a need to protect the PSN and professional capacity building activities.