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1 results

  • 14 - When the Patient Is a Child

  • Edited by Thomasine Kushner
  • Book:
    Surviving Health Care
    Published online:
    05 June 2012
    Print publication:
    29 March 2010, pp 191-205

  • Summary

    Patient's competence is one of the most important factors in making informed decisions. It represents the ability to understand the situation and possible outcomes and to consider the consequences of choices he or she makes. Patients who are legally deemed to be minors cannot independently make decisions about their health care, with certain exceptions. Health care decisions for minors are made by their parents or guardians. This is known as surrogate or proxy decision making. It is known that knowledge of the illness and treatment options increases child's feeling of control and ability to cope with the illness. Potential problems arise when an adolescent and his or her parents or health care team disagree on how to proceed with treatment. When children are patients, their parents may be approached by the health care team to ask their permission for their children to participate in a research study.