Ethical considerations in balancing parental autonomy with protecting a child with epilepsy from harm

Neurologists are expected to accommodate parental decisions in the medical care for their child, unless the parental decision places the child at an unnecessary risk of serious harm. Sometimes, respect for parental autonomy is in conflict with the physician's professional obligation to protect the patient from harm and to optimize treatment for a particular disease or condition. This case illustrates an ethical dilemma created when the neurologist and parent disagree about the most appropriate medical treatment for a child with epilepsy. Viewing the disagreement within an ethical framework, however, provides the parties to the disagreement with an opportunity to understand the beliefs and motivations of everyone involved and creates the potential for an outcome based upon the child's best interest.