Health Care Decisions For Children

When the children are incapable, nurses have moral responsibility to assist parents in decision making in the children's best interest. "Substituting an adult judgement of what is in a child’s best interest is not necessarily equivalent with the child’s best interest (Coyne and Harder, 2011)." Acting in a child’s best interest requires parents and health professionals to take children's view seriously and give priority consideration to the impact of their decisions on children (Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC). The adults have responsibilities towards their children to enable them in making decision but they do not have rights to make decision for their children (Lowden, 2002). Children should not be viewed as property. The first step in protecting the rights of children as outlined in the CRC is to view them as citizens (Van Daalen-Smith, 2010). When parents claim that the child belongs to them, they are establishing an ownership notion. Children should be respected as active contributor not as passive recipient of the health care (Maconochie and McNeill, 2010). Therefore, parental role in decision making for their children should be complementary not

While children are influenced by many things, there are no stronger influences than that of their parents. Parents are usually their children’s first playmates, and while there world expands with each passing year, parental influence is still one of the greatest factors in determining the ways in which the child will grow and develop.

The ethical issues involved in this topic include age limits, medical ethics, informed consent, and autonomy. It is unethical and immoral to allow adolescents to make their own medical decisions, because the judgment and capacity to make coherent decisions is unstable. However, adolescents should be involved and have a voice in the process of decision making, nonetheless I believe that the concluding medical decision should be made by the guardian and the doctor. An adolescent is between the ages of thirteen and nineteen. Society permits the legal determination of decision making for health care at the age of eighteen years. It is very important to consider developmental issues which will influence both reasoning and information processing, the brain not being fully developed causes a sense of a lost identity, and low self esteem challenges adolescents to develop a logical decision. An adolescent brain is not yet fully developed, the lack of grey matter and an

Throughout history there has been many ethical dilemmas that have resulted in change, and many that have still not been resolve. These dilemmas often result in controversial issues arising, and both sides of the spectrum arguing as to which proposed idea is the morally correct one. Today, there is an enormous controversy in the ethical dilemma involving child care. This issue revolves around whether the views of the parents should be upheld when their child is in danger medically. To further assess the impact of this ethical dilemmas, a case study involving the treatment implemented on a child by a physician while opposing the views and wishes held by the parents will be analyzed in terms of the ethics of the situation, the stakeholders, values,

One reason why teenagers should have the right to confidential medical treatments is so they can deal with their issues as effectively and timely as possible. When minors present their medical problems to their physicians, some of them can be emergencies. These situations can appear in a circumstance such as the patient waiting so long to get a doctor’s opinion of their illness or injury that they are at risk of serious consequences if it is not treated immediately. In some cases, there is no time to receive parental consent or approval, and medical procedure must happen as soon as possible. The patient is most desperate for attention in emergency situations and they should be able to consent to procedures so that they can be performed quickly. “Emergency physicians shall

This memorandum is written to inform others on the topic of mature minors and medical decisions. This matter has come to the surface of major debate and concern recently. One specific court case, involving Cassandra Callender of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, has sparked much of that concern. Seventeen-year old Cassandra was diagnosed with stage-three Hodgkin's Lymphoma and told by several doctors that she would predictably die within two years without the rounds of chemotherapy they had recommended for her. With the treatment, there was an expected 85% chance of survival (Cassandra Callender). However, Cassandra’s mother kept switching her daughter’s doctors, constantly questioned the diagnosis they were making, and according to the commissioner of her case, had, “...failed to meet the medical needs’, of Cassandra”. Cassandra was taken from her home and placed in her cousin’s because of her mother’s medical neglect. Callender’s mother testified that she knew that her daughter had cancer and that it was something that needed to be taken seriously. She further testified that her daughter should begin the chemotherapy rounds as quick as possible. Medics came to Cassandra’s home, after being returned

Although all citizens are protected the by the United States Constitution, minors are categorized as a special group; preventing them from making decisions without their guardian’s consent. Thus, under the parameters set by the Constitution, at the age of sixteen, Wendy should not be permitted to refuse chemotherapy treatment. Contrarily, in some states, if Wendy establishes her independence from her parents or at least is able to demonstrate a high level of maturity, she may be allowed to dictate her medical treatment (Mernikoff, 2001).

It is important to first identify what rights that minors do have when it comes to their medical decisions and care. In every state, statutes regarding minor’s permission to consent for medical care depends on the child’s“status,” or on the “service” that they are seeking. Status in which a minor under the age of 18 can consent to medical care include cases in which a minor may be

Intro: Parents will often refuse to treat their children with modern medical sciences that could save their child, but how they go about refusing it makes it very frustrating for the government to intervene.

In 2012, only 85.8% of Georgians with eligible children were participating in the Medicaid/CHIP program. Nationwide the rate of enrollment is only 88.1% of eligible children. (“Medicaid/CHIP Participation Rates Among Children: An Update” 2014) After twelve months 30% of eligible children are not reenrolled. (Sommers 2006) Designed to provide health care coverage for children whose parents have too high an income to qualify for Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, CHIP was passed in 1997. But parents/caregivers are not taking full advantage of this. Lack of access to medical care is, without question, detrimental not only to the children but to society as well. (Sommers 2005) Why are these numbers so dismal? Are there changes in policy that could be made to improve this situation?

Nursing is an all encompassing profession in which practitioners are not only proficient in technical medical functionality, they also have the obligation to remain compassionate and respectful of patients and as such are expected to adhere to pre established codes of ethics. Of these ethics, autonomy is of extreme importance as it offers patients a sense of personal authority during a time where they may feel as if their lives, or at the very least their health, is no longer under their control. Autonomy in the context of nursing allocates the patient and often their family with the final word on the course of treatment. The concept of patient autonomy is a highly variable subject in all fields of health care. It is a universal concept that varies widely in its meaning and interpretation. Autonomy in its simplest form can be defined as a state of independence or self governing (Atkins, 2006). Patient autonomy can also be defined as the ability to make once own decisions, based on one’s sound judgment. It is defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2011) as the "agreement to respect another 's right to self determine a course of action; support of independent decision making." This seemingly straight forward ethical concept is rife with difficulties when one considers potential disagreements that may arise even when informed consent is provided, particularly among children or vulnerable people. Relevant research and

There are many legal and ethical situations that healthcare providers will be faced with when providing medical treatment to either a child or an elderly adult. While there is often much discussion regarding the elderly and do not resuscitate orders, there are often times when the decisions for health care of a child may be overlooked. Some of the legal issues that may be faced by healthcare professionals are informed consent, confidentiality, reproductive services and child abuse. Patients have the right to decide what is done to their own bodies, but for children under eighteen, their parents decide for them. A major issue faced by healthcare professionals is parental refusal for treatment. Healthcare providers will be faced with many conflicting ethical and legal situations regarding refusal of a minor’s healthcare and treatment. These issues

Children are the future of the world and need to be nurtured and educated in the best conditions. Thus, parenting is one of the most challenging and admirable responsibilities that people can experience. Parenting plays important roles in the development of children’s characteristics. Some people nurture children depending on their own ways. Others get advice from friends or books. Parenting can be divided into three groups: authoritative, permissive, and democratic parenting.

A child’s parent or guardian will normally have authority over a child’s welfare. In regards to medical and mental health, a parent may subject the child to surgeries despite the objections of

Parents put maturity demands on youth. Parent use their authority to keep children safe and guide children’s choice. At the same time, also listen to children’s point of view to encourage their input on activity choices within specific bounds.