Why Do Children Die? Selective Perspectives on Thanatology in Pediatrics

As we reflect on causes of death in our children, methods of prevention become critically important to research and implement. Research notes that millions of childhood injuries result in thousands of deaths. Death can be due to medical disease and considerable progress including prevention of death has been made in management of cancer and other conditions over the past century, especially in developed countries. It is also important to apply principles of management and prevention to consequences of aggression and chronic illness. As illustrated in this book, we must look at underlying issues, both medical and behavioral, in the physical and psychiatric health of our children. We should apply known principles of preventive medicine that are being researched in the 21st century to prevent needless deaths in our pediatric population. Prevention may arise from such understanding and application of known concepts with fewer pediatric deaths and fewer parents/families undergoing heart-breaking grieving processes.