Adolescents' lived experiences of making health choices: an ethical point of view

This study describes and interprets adolescents' lived experiences of their rights, duties and responsibilities in relation to their health choices. Fourteen focus group interviews with 67 adolescents aged 15 and 16 were conducted and analysed using the phenomenological hermeneutical method. Adolescents' lived experiences of their rights in relation to their health choices were described as things that were allowed. Duties and responsibilities were perceived as something that they were required to carry out for their own health or other people's health. Although their experiences of rights, duties and responsibilities overlapped, they referred to different aspects of their health choices. Adolescents viewed their rights, duties and responsibilities in the wider context, with parents and society defining their opportunities to make independent choices. We found that ethical considerations influenced adolescents' choices and, the opportunities to exercise their rights, duties and responsibilities varied. Further consideration and recognition of these issues are needed.