Paediatric nursing and children's autonomy

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare Ethics
• Child Autonomy in Medicine

Background:

• Children's rights are complex, with a focus on healthcare decision-making.
• Factors influencing a child's autonomy include family and healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of children's right to make healthcare decisions.
• To examine influences on child autonomy within healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and ethical analysis.
• Exploration of influencing factors on children's healthcare autonomy.

Main Results:

• Family dynamics and healthcare worker interactions significantly impact child autonomy.
• Nurses face ethical dilemmas when personal or hierarchical factors impede promoting child autonomy.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing and supporting children's right to healthcare autonomy is crucial.
• Addressing systemic and individual barriers is necessary for nurses to effectively promote children's rights in healthcare.