Children’s Competence for Health Care Decisionmaking

摘要: What role should children play in decisionmaking about their health care?1 The doctrine of informed consent requires that medical treatment only be given to adults with competent, and voluntary consent. law, as well common practice, presumes are competent decide treatment, though this presumption can rebutted particular instances. On the other hand, law minors, who most states persons below age 18 years, not care; some exceptions noted below. For generally holds others, usually parents or guardians, for them treatment. general then legal policy is entitled care while not. However, we shall see, good reason has often involved minors a greater extent than seems require.