In most cases, consent from one parent is usually sufficient to carry out a treatment if deemed in the child’s best interests (some require the agreement of both parents, such as vaccinations and male circumcision) but where there is serious disagreement, consideration should be given to withholding treatment if not essential.
Full Answer
Can a child be treated without the consent of both parents?
In most cases, consent from one parent is usually sufficient to carry out a treatment if deemed in the child’s best interests (some require the agreement of both parents, such as vaccinations and male circumcision) but where there is serious disagreement, consideration should be given to withholding treatment if not essential.
What are some difficult medical decisions parents have to make?
Every day, parents face difficult medical decisions regarding their children. When a child is sick, parents need to decide when to see a physician or agree to a course of treatment. Other medical decisions are preventative, such as whether to vaccinate a healthy child.
Can a parent refuse medical treatment for their child?
Outside of these circumstances, parents have the right to consent or refuse medical treatment for their children. For example: If a child has a terminal condition and several doctors agree that treatment is no longer beneficial for the child, then the parents have the right to refuse treatment and seek hospice care for their child.
Are you stuck in the middle of a healthcare dispute with your child?
Conflicts involving parents who disagree about the management of their child’s healthcare are not uncommon and can be awkward with practices getting “stuck in the middle” of often bitter disputes. Emotions can run high and usually concern more than just the welfare of the child.
What happens when parents disagree on medical decisions?
If your child's legal custodian refuses a life-saving or life-improving medication, surgery, vaccine, or other medical procedure and you disagree, you can petition the court for intervention.
Do both parents have to agree on medication?
Solutions for Medication Disputes If one party has sole legal custody, then he or she has the exclusive right to make medical decisions for the children. If you have joint legal custody, then both parents must come to agreement on issues regarding medical decisions.
Can a parent refuse medication for their child?
Parents have the responsibility and authority to make medical decisions on behalf of their children. This includes the right to refuse or discontinue treatments, even those that may be life-sustaining. However, parental decision-making should be guided by the best interests of the child.
Can a parent demand that you provide their child with treatment and you are uncomfortable with?
Can parents refuse to provide their children with necessary medical treatment on the basis of their beliefs? Parents have legal and moral authority to make health care decisions for their children, as long as those decisions do not pose a significant risk of serious harm to the child's health.
What if 2 parents disagree on medical treatment?
If a parent refuses to give consent to a particular treatment, this decision can be overruled by the courts if treatment is thought to be in the best interests of the child. By law, healthcare professionals only need 1 person with parental responsibility to give consent for them to provide treatment.
What do judges look for in child custody cases?
The child's age, gender, characteristics and background will all be a factor in the decision process. The judge or magistrate will want to ensure that the child is safe from any possible harm and the parent has the ability to meet the child's needs.
Can doctors override parents decisions?
That is, because of the existence of an emergency, treatment is legally permissible, and the court does not need to adjudicate the best interest of the child in approving the physician's decision to override a parental refusal for treatment.
What decisions should parents make for their child?
Here are ten difficult decisions parents make to ensure their child is on the right path.Choosing a school. ... Which parent is going to stay home. ... Choosing a college out of state. ... When it's time to get a driver's license. ... Vaccinations. ... Unplugging from the internet. ... Arguments. ... Food.More items...•
Can parents refuse medical treatment for their child for religious reasons?
“The U.S. values religious freedom to the point where states are willing to grant parents the right to refuse even life-saving medical treatments for their children if the parents can show that there's a religious tenet that would be violated by administering the treatment,” said Efthimios Parasidis, JD, a professor of ...
Can doctors go against parents wishes?
However, there are situations where doctors can disagree with a parent's decision if a child is in a severe medical dilemma. The parens patriae doctrine gives the state the right to intervene with a parent's decision when it's believed they are not acting in the best interest for the child's well-being.
Why should parents make medical decisions for their children?
Introduction: Parents/legal guardians are medical decision-makers for their minor children. Lack of parental capacity to appreciate the implications of the diagnosis and consequences of refusing recommended treatment may impede pediatric patients from receiving adequate medical care.
Is it ethical for a doctor to treat family members?
In general, physicians should not treat themselves or members of their own families. However, it may be acceptable to do so in limited circumstances: (a) In emergency settings or isolated settings where there is no other qualified physician available.