Catherine Joanne Binda

Traditional hierarchical medical frameworks assumed physicians knew what was best for their patients and often left patients out of the decision-making process.[1] This medical model of care has been replaced with an increasingly patient- and family-centred model, where patients actively collaborate with their health care team to design and manage their treatment journey.[2] As a “desirable component of quality health care,”[3] the success of patient-centred care can be evaluated using tools...

In 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) [Figure 1].[1] The UNCRC was informed by previous declarations, including the 1924 Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the 1959 United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child.[1] These early documents were limited in scope, with 5 and 10 articles, respectively, and they did not define the start or end of childhood.

Providing quality surgical services, including emergency and obstetrical surgical care, is essential to a well-functioning health system.