Nancy E. Rangel-Domínguez, División de Cuidados Paliativos y Clínica del Dolor, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González; Unidad de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Ciudad de México, México
Traditionally, hospital policies have excluded children from end-of-life farewells under the guise of “protection,” often leading to isolation and fragmented closure. This article examines the ethical and clinical necessity of integrating minors into these processes, framing it as both a fundamental right and a preventive mental health measure. Grounded in the principle of evolving capacities and the ethics of care, the study argues that exclusion disrupts the child’s ability to construct a coherent narrative of loss, thereby increasing the risk of complicated grief. Recognizing children as active subjects of rights allows for a balance between their progressive autonomy and their need for clinical support. Ultimately, fostering inclusive farewells is an ethical imperative that facilitates healthy bereavement and ensures truly comprehensive, humanized palliative care for the entire family unit.
Keywords: Farewell. End-of-life. Ethics of care. Palliative care. Grief/bereavement.