Rethinking Healthcare for Children – Pivot to Human Dignity

The US pediatric healthcare system is a leader in innovation and research. Several pediatric outcomes are, however, worse than other industrialized nations, and healthcare costs per capita remain substantially higher than comparable nations. These circumstances suggest the importance and need to explore new ways to conceptualize the care of children. Here, we argue that a pivot to human dignity could provide a foundation to reimagine pediatric healthcare. We propose that the foundation of children’s dignity is the gift of every child, and we suggest that human dignity provides a justification for children’s rights to health. Accepting the gift of every child implies the absolute responsibility of adults to respect the unique and embodied gift of each child by addressing their very real health needs and well-being. A pivot to human dignity can help ground children’s rights to health and ensure their care and well-being.