Review into children giving consent for medical treatment
- Sep 28, 2016
- EmmaArnold
A review has found that doctors rarely ask children for their opinions when it comes to medical decisions.
Following this review, a study from the University of Surrey found children with cancer between the ages of seven and 16 were not involved in any decisions regarding treatment because 'refusal was not an option.'
Children over the age of 16 can consent to treatment but so can younger children if doctors think they are competent enough.
Hannah Bottomley, clinical negligence solicitor at PotterReesDolan, said:
Whilst part of me welcomes the recent attention this report is undoubtedly going to shine on the issue I can’t help but feel that this is nothing new to us here in the UK.
The idea to me that medical professionals in this country will not seek or accept consent from children under 16 is an alien one but perhaps stemming from America this study is something which is vitally needed to ensure that children are given information and treatment when it is being sought whether their parents are present or not.
Although there is no legal age to give consent, doctors will assess how able a child is to make a decision.
Researchers took participants aged, nine, 14, 18 and 21 and gave them hypothetical treatments.
They found the 14-year-olds did as well as adults and, although the nine-year-olds did not understand information quite as well, they still made similar logical decisions.