When teaching ethics to students, case studies are a valuable resource. It is thought that case studies to which students can relate are the most effective as this creates a conflict within the minds of the student which they will be motivated to resolve. While this is not always possible, it will be helpful to think of actual situations you or fellow students may have encountered in the workplace when discussing ethics in children's palliative care. What follows is an example of a real situation in a South African Hospice.

Ethics is the study of the rational process for determining the best course of action in the face of conflicting choices and the moral principles of conduct that are considered correct by a profession or group. In children's palliative care, the study of ethics is imperative as it provides health care workers with the tools to approach difficult dilemmas in a more objective manner.