analog

Yep. The sucky thing is, it's not always as easy as saying they're bad parents, or idiots, or have some "odd" (to us) religious/cultural thing. Most of the time, it's as simple as panic, or plain old "not wanting to let go".

As for the OP, it's just one of many things to deal with, regarding patients.

For treating children whose parents have wishes that may interfere with proper medical treatment, the standard way in emergent cases is just explaining that you respect their beliefs, but the child is in peril of death. No one wants to die- but as an adult, your beliefs are firm and you're prepared to die to honor them. Do you think your child really understands that, and why you're letting them die?

It may sound harsh, and that's because it kind of is- and must be. As a person charged with helping people and saving lives, I can't allow the beliefs of one person to allow another person to die. Children don't understand their beliefs- but most importantly, the consequences of having them.

In an emergency situation (meaning there's no time for things like court orders), the parents' word is still law, but we will do everything in our power to try and convince the parents to let the child be treated. This includes throwing out all notions of caring for the parents feelings and speaking bluntly about letting the child die. Whatever it takes to save the child, that's what has to be done.