BMJ 1994;308:1182-1183 (7 May)

Editorials

Children's consent to treatment

I would like to see the age limits completely scrapped, and maturity brought in. As you grow up, your age has a stereotype. I'm trying to escape from that stereotype." - Robin, aged 13 - quoted in "Children's Consent to Surgery"1

If competent to understand the consequences should a child be able to consent and, more importantly, refuse to consent to medical treatment? Some recent rulings in the English law courts have apparently disenfranchised children, and the debate has resurfaced on their rights to self determination. The issue has a tremendous impact on paediatric practice, and all those who care for children should have a clear understanding of the legal and ethical consensus.

From the late 1960s to the early 1990s changes in the law on consent progressively increased the rights of those under 18 to self determination - always dependent on their capacity to understand the implications of their . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Articles

Children's consent to treatment
W G Brooks, L Bahar-Posey, L Weathers, and W Pardue
BMJ 1994 309: 807. [Extract] [Full Text]

Children's consent to treatment
A Clark
BMJ 1994 308: 1637. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Neill, S. J. (2005). Research with children: a critical review of the guidelines. J Child Health Care 9: 46-58 [Abstract]  
  • Paul, M. (2004). Decision-making about children's mental health care: ethical challenges. Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 10: 301-311 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Clayton, M. (2000). Review : Consent in children: legal and ethical issues. J Child Health Care 4: 78-81 [Abstract]  
  • Baum, M., Kestin, I G, Josse, S E, Brewster, D. H, Bain, M. R S, Chalmers, J. W T, Gould, A., Dewar, J. A, George, W D., Nottingham, J., Winter, A. J, Mullis, D., Radcliffe, K. W, Wilcox, D T, Wilcock, F, Spitz, L, Pierro, A (1998). Informed consent. BMJ 317: 947a-947 [Full text]  
  • Mok, A, Nelson, E A S (1996). Children on hunger strike: child abuse or legitimate protest?. BMJ 312: 501-502 [Full text]  
  • Wager, E., Tooley, P. J H, Emanuel, M. B, Wood, S. F (1995). How To Do It: Get patients' consent to enter clinical trials. BMJ 311: 734-737 [Full text]  
  • Brooks, W G, Bahar-Posey, L, Weathers, L, Pardue, W (1994). Children's consent to treatment. BMJ 309: 807a-807 [Full text]  
  • Clark, A (1994). Children's consent to treatment. BMJ 308: 1637-1637 [Full text]  
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