Consent and refusal for adolescents: the law

Abstract

The media reported last year that a 13-year-old girl had 'won the right' to refuse a heart transplant, which highlighted the issues of the rights of adolescents to consent to and refuse medical treatment. However, the perception that the right of adolescents to refuse health care has changed is a false one. Healthcare decision making for adolescents is an area of particular concern for paediatric nurses, who should attempt to make some sense of the complex legal issues concerning competence, consent and refusal. This article outlines the legal status of adolescents regarding consent to and refusal of treatment, and highlights rulings that have affected them greatly. Nurses must understand and believe in their patients' rights if they are to promote them and act as their advocate.