Children in the focus of the attention of pediatricians and pediatric surgeons.

Children represent the future of humankind. They are the bridge to our immortality. They get the attention of everybody who wants to help and do something for them. It is a common interest of pediatricians and pediatric surgeons to provide ill children with almost care. In the context of historic development of medicine, the author focuses her attention on the development of pediatric and surgical care of children with the emphasis given to the care of critically ill children suffering from inborn heart defects. The author uses the example of co-operation of pediatric cardiologists and cardiosurgeons as the base for her reflections of ethical principles, norms and attitudes to the implementation of modern surgical techniques in the treatment of newborn babies suffering from the syndrome of left-heart hypoplasia. The history of child-care in general and especially that dedicated to newborn babies suffering from inborn heart defects in Slovakia is associated with the personality of Professor Siman, a significant Slovak cardiosurgeon.