Percepciones y sentimientos de niños argentinos pospandemia por COVID-19 / Perceptions and feelings of Argentine children post pandemic COVID-19

La mortalidad y formas graves atribuibles al COVID-19 en población pediátrica han sido bajas en comparación con los adultos. No obstante, los niños, niñas y adolescentes (NNA) constituyen un universo especialmente afectado por la pandemia, en cuanto a restricción y limitación de sus derechos. La Subcomisión de Derechos de la Niñez y Adolescencia y el Comité de Pediatría Social de la Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría entendieron trascendente recolectar sus voces para relevar el impacto que la transición de la situación de pandemia por COVID-19 a la actual "nueva normalidad" ha producido en los sentimientos, emociones y deseos de los NNA en Argentina. Realizamos un estudio cualitativo, descriptivo, basado en encuesta anónima, entre NNA argentinos de 6 a 18 años residentes en Argentina. El análisis incluyó 1537 entrevistas efectivas. Los resultados permitieron sugerir recomendaciones para desarrollar estrategias de afrontamiento, contención y acompañamiento de los NNA en la pospandemia.

The frequency of the severity of the different expressions of SARS-COV-2 disease, and its mortality in the pediatric population have been low unlike in the adult population. However, children and adolescents have been very affected by this virus, through the restriction and limitations of their rights. The Subcommittee on the Rights of the Childhood and Adolescence and the Committee of Social Pediatrics of the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría understood that it was very important to gather their voices to weigh the impact of the transition from COVID pandemic to this "new normalcy" and the effects on argentine children and adolescents' rights, emotions and desires, especially those related to accessibility to education and health. We carried on a qualitative descriptive narrative transversal phenomenological research, through an open anonymous survey, among children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years old, living in Argentina; 1537 surveys were collected. The research findings allowed elaborate recommendations to develop strategies to face, protect and accompany the children and adolescents during the post-pandemic.

Creer o no creer: ¿esa es la cuestión? / To believe or not to believe: is that the question?

Es un dato de la realidad que, en pediatría, los padres son los representantes legales de sus hij os, lo cual implica que las decisiones médicas en relación con el pequeño deben ser tomadas con la intervención de, al menos, uno de sus padres, quien -en ejercicio de la autonomía subrogada y de la representación legalmente conferida-brindará su consentimiento informado. El problema surge cuando los padres niegan su consentimiento informado o, directamente, asumen decisiones que repercuten de modo concreto en el bienestar e integridad del niño, lo que provoca un daño o -cuando menos- lo coloca en riesgo de sufrir un daño. Nuestro desafío es procurar una conciliación de los intereses y derechos en juego siempre teniendo presente que la pauta constitucional de interpretación cuando de un niño se trata es su interés superior.

It is a reality that, in the field of pediatrics, parents are the legal representatives of their children, which means that any medical decision in relation to the child should be taken with the intercession of at least one of his/her parents who -in the exercise of a subrogated autonomy and a legally granted representation- provide their informed consent. The problem arises when the parents refuse to give their informed consent or directly make decisions that will have a specific impact on their child's well-being, thus causing damage or at least a risk for damage. The challenge here is to reconcile the interests and rights at stake, always considering that the constitutional rule of interpretation in the case of a child are his/her best interests.

Opinión de los miembros de la Justicia Nacional en lo Penal y Civil (Familia) en situaciones de limitación del soporte vital en pediatría / Opinions of members of the National Civil (Family Proceedings) and Criminal Courts in withholding or withdrawing of life support situations in pediatrics

Introducción. La posibilidad de sostener artificialmente las funciones vitales hace más difícil diferenciar al paciente en agonía terminal del paciente con posibilidades de supervivencia, lo que pone al grupo que lo rodea frente a un dilema. Por un lado, se presenta la continuación de soporte que solo prolongue un proceso irreversible, que causa daños físicos, psíquicos y a su dignidad. Por otro, la abstención o retiro de soporte vital sin la reflexión y el esfuerzo diagnóstico-terapéutico apropiado puede dejar sin esperanza y llevar a la muerte a un niño potencialmente recuperable. Además, la toma de decisiones, en estas circunstancias, enfrenta diversas barreras que dificultan lograr el mejor interés del paciente. Entre ellas, los temores legales son un factor importante. ¿En qué medida esos temores están justificados? Objetivo. Explorar la opinión del Poder Judicial de la Nación respecto al enfoque que, desde el derecho, se da a situaciones de limitación de soporte vital. Población y métodos. Profesionales activos del ámbito penal, civil y médico forense. Encuesta semiestructurada sobre tres casos hipotéticos con decisiones sobre la limitación del soporte vital. Resultados. Se repartieron 185 encuestas; se contestaron 68 (36,76%) y 51 (30,3%) fueron respondidas en forma completa. No tipificaron ningún delito en ninguno de los tres casos 28 (55%) encuestados. Trece (25%) interpretaron como delitos las decisiones de los tres casos; 6 (12%), alguno de los casos; y 4 (8%), 2 de los 3 casos. Los delitos seleccionados por los encuestados incluyeron homicidio doloso, homicidio culposo y abandono de persona. Conclusiones. El 45% de los encuestados consideraron que hubo alguna forma de delito en las decisiones tomadas.

Introduction. The possibility of sustaining life functions makes it difficult to distinguish between a dying patient and a patient with chances of survival, raising a dilemma for everyone around them. On the one side, continuing with life support techniques that would only extend an irreversible process and result in physical and psychological damage and harm their dignity. On the other side, withholding or withdrawing life support without an adequate reflection and diagnostic-therapeutic effort which may lead to the death of a potentially recoverable child. In addition, making decisions in this context implies facing barriers that hinder the possibility of pursuing the patient's best interest. Among such barriers, the fear of litigation plays a major role. To what extent is this fear justified? Objective. To explore the opinions of the members of the National Judiciary regarding the approach to withholding or withdrawing of life support from a legal stance. Population and methods. Professionals working in the criminal, civil and forensic medicine settings. Semistructured survey on three hypothetical case histories that implied making a decision to withhold or withdraw life support. Results. One hundred and eighty-five surveys were distributed; 68 (36.76%) were partially completed and 51 (30.3%), in full. Twenty-eight (55%) survey respondents did not criminalize any of the three cases presented. Thirteen (25%) respondents considered that the decisions made in the three cases constituted a crime; 6 (12%), only in one case; and 4 (8%), in two out of the three. Crimes described by survey respondents included intentional homicide, wrongful death, and failure to render assistance. Conclusions. Forty-five percent of survey respondents considered that decisions made involved some form of crime.

Obesity Epidemic in Brazil and Argentina: A Public Health Concern.

The obesity epidemic is rapidly advancing in South America, leading to inevitable health consequences. Argentinian and Brazilian health policies try to become adapted to the new economic and social framework that follows from this epidemic. It is in incipient and ineffective control so far since the prevalence of obesity was not restrained. The Argentine national legislation is more advanced, through the so-called “Ley de Obesidad.” In Brazil, there are numerous local initiatives but still not a comprehensive law. National policies relating to decisions regarding obesity are discussed in this paper. Trends in decisions issued in higher courts of Argentina (Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation—CSJN) and Brazil (Supreme Court of Justice—STF), in the last 15 years, seek to clarify the approach of each country and court´s resolutions. Marked differences were found in their positions. Finally, legal and health solutions to this obesity epidemic are proposed.