Should parents be allowed to refuse medical treatment 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.
Why should parents make medical decisions for their child?
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.
Should parents make decisions for their teenage child?
Decision making is one of the most important skills your children need to develop to become healthy and mature adults. Decision making is crucial because the decisions your children make dictate the path that their lives take. Teaching your children to make their own decisions has several benefits.
Should minors be able to make their own medical decisions?
States have traditionally recognized the right of parents to make health care decisions on their children's behalf, on the presumption that before reaching the age of majority (18 in all but four states), young people lack the experience and judgment to make fully informed decisions.
Can parents refuse medical treatment for their child for religious reasons?
Religious Beliefs are Not a Defense for Denying Treatment to a Child. Adults have the right to refuse their own medical care for religious or personal reasons. However, this legal right to refuse medical care does not extend to their children if it endangers the child's welfare.
What if parents disagree on medical treatment?
Legal Options When Parents Disagree on Medical Decisions If there is shared decision-making regarding medical issues and both parents cannot come to an agreement, the court will examine the facts both parties put forth and determine what is in the best interest of the child.
Can a 12 year old make their own decisions?
“In some instances, kids 12 and above are developmentally ready to make their own medical decisions, like for vaccines or receiving recommended healthcare treatments where there are harmful consequences if they do not receive them,” she told Healthline.
Can a 13 year old make their own decisions?
Many parents tell me their child will be 12 years old, 13 years old, 14 years old soon and will be able to make their own decisions. They appear to be uniformly surprised to learn that a minor child does not have the legal right to decide which parent to live with.
Why should parents make decisions?
Ultimately, when parents make decisions for their children it helps the child grow in a healthy lifestyle, go on the right path, and not make wrong decisions in life which would lead to bad consequences for the child.
Can a 12 year old give consent to medical treatment?
Children under the age of 16 can consent to their own treatment if they're believed to have enough intelligence, competence and understanding to fully appreciate what's involved in their treatment. This is known as being Gillick competent. Otherwise, someone with parental responsibility can consent for them.
Why can't minors make decisions?
Abstract. In the past, minors were not considered legally capable of making medical decisions and were viewed as incompetent because of their age. The authority to consent or refuse treatment for a minor remained with a parent or guardian.