The capacities of minors to exercise voluntariness in medical treatment decisions

摘要: The legal standard for informed consent to medical treatment requires that the consenter be informed, competent, and acting voluntarily. voluntary requirement of a valid was investigated by comparing forty 9- 10-year-old children 14- 15-year-old adolescents (both generally presumed incapable consent) with 47 young adults ranging in age from 21 25 (legally deciding voluntarily) on responses three hypothetical decision vignettes. degree parental influence varied within each vignette study salience making. In two vignettes, most participants were deferent wishes few differences found between children, adolescents, their influence. Differences groups response kidney donation vignette. Children significantly more likely defer parents than either or adults. Adolescents adults, although this finding only approximated statistical significance. Implications these findings authorities, social policy makers, families are discussed.