Children's competency to consent: an ethical dilemma

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Pediatric Healthcare
• Child Rights Law

Background:

• Current legislation applying the best interests principle creates ethical dilemmas regarding children's consent to medical treatment.
• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) formally recognizes children's participation rights in healthcare.
• Children's capacity to consent to treatment is often based on societal perceptions of competence, leading to inconsistencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the ethical challenges in obtaining children's consent to treatment within existing legal frameworks.
• To examine the role of the best interests principle in pediatric healthcare decision-making.
• To identify strategies for enhancing children's participation in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of current legislation concerning children's consent and the best interests principle.
• Review of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) regarding children's participation rights.
• Exploration of the concept of competency in pediatric healthcare decision-making.

Main Results:

• The application of the best interests principle in legislation creates an ethical dilemma for children's consent to treatment.
• While children's participation in healthcare is increasingly advocated, significant barriers persist.
• Nurses play a crucial role in facilitating children's participation.

Conclusions:

• Ethical considerations and legal frameworks surrounding children's consent to treatment require careful navigation.
• Enhancing children's participation in healthcare necessitates addressing barriers and promoting their rights.
• Nurses are key facilitators in empowering children through effective communication and partnership building in healthcare settings.