081015L - ETHICO-LEGAL ISSUES OF CONSENT FOR CHILDREN and ADOLESCENTS.

Background material by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr. for Year 1 Semester 2 Biomed PPSD session on 15^th October 2008.

CONSENT BY CHILDREN:

1. Describe how children can be involved in decision making.

2. Describe the growth of child competence by age.

3. Describe limitations to consent or refusal by children (they can accept treatment but cannot refuse treatment considered necessary by the professionals).

PARENTAL CONSENT FOR CHILDREN:

4. Describe parental responsibility for decisions on the child (parents can consent for their children, the consent must be in the best interests of the patient, courts of law can intervene if the professionals think that parents are not acting in the best interests of the child, parents cannot override decision of a competent child),

5. Describe the course of action if parents disagree (for a life threatening situation the consent of one parent is enough if the other refuses, for irreversible procedures a court is consulted).

INTERVENTIONS IN CHILDREN WITHOUT CONSENT:

6. Describe how the consideration of best interests differs between children and adults (adults know their best interest whereas children do not).

7. Discuss the ethical guidelines for an intervention in a child to save an adult’s life or to prevent psychological harm.

8. Describe interventions that are carried out against the wishes of the child (treatment of drug addiction, depression, anorexia nervosa, life-threatening disease).