The world of healthcare is one which many patients struggle to navigate, especially in terms of making difficult choices regarding their care. This is especially true of younger people, who will be exposed to the future of constant challenges in evolving diseases, environments, and treatments. Adolescence is the tricky, midway stage between childhood and adulthood, where the phrase “young adult” is the symbol of growing freedoms and responsibilities. Many people recognize that this special age group is a transitional period where the weight of decision making is passed from parents to their children. Dr. Vic Larcher in “Moving from dependence to autonomy: Adolescents’ decisions regarding their own health care,” provides the health care professional’s standpoint: “Legally, it seems that adolescents’ right to consent and confidentiality depends on their capacity to exercise it. Ethically, professionals have a duty to respect and enhance adolescents’ evolving capacity to make health care choices and respect their confidentiality, provided that doing so does not produce harm to adolescents or to others.” In this context, although adolescents need an increased role in decision …show more content…
Arguably, the best source of experience is from your own parents, whom you can observe as they make their own choices based on their values and knowledge. Also, any medically related situation requires the involvement of many other people besides the patient, including your medical team who is often your best advisor in the technical capacity. Some people may not have a thorough understanding of their medical history and may make a regrettable decision resulting from incomplete conclusions. Communication of essential information between parents, adolescents, and medical professionals can ease this
Competent adults have the legal right to make decisions about their own health care without being challenged by a physician. However, in some instances, those same competent adults cannot make medical decisions for their children without the courts stepping in and overriding the parents’ legal rights. One of the most challenging and complicated task as a parent is to make a medical decision about their child that could mean life or death (The Canadian Bar Association, 2012).
As such, they cannot legally give consent to be counseled. It is still a counselor’s duty to hold the same confidentiality rules to protect the information shared by the minor. The fact that the student is a minor would not nullify the confidentiality statute that would normally take effect upon consent during any other counseling session. After assessing the magnitude of the issue(s) at hand, the school counselor would then decide whether or not to involve the parents or other school educators who can help. This action is solely a professional judgment call and does not adhere to any pre-set rules or regulations on how to take action.
In America, the legal age to sign off on any medical consent is 18 years of age. Seventeen year olds should be able to compose their own medical decisions, and sign off on their own medical consents. Power should land in their hands, accompanied by the professional advice of a doctor. It is your body, be compelled to fabricate a decision without having to have your parent’s signature.
How can a child make the decision for the life of another child by themselves? In this paper I will outline the mental, physical, and safety issues of minors (age 18 and under) having an abortion and why it is so important that they need to get parental consent before making this life long decision.
his own life how he wishes, even if it will damage health or lead to
This provides people with control over their health care when they cannot speak for themselves. In other words, a health care directive is a legal document recognized by a legislative body to promote autonomy (The Health Care Directives Act, 1992). Autonomy is described as the quality to function independently (Mosby, 2013). Autonomy is the fundamental concept of health care directives, it allows people to openly express their personal values and beliefs, without judgement of health care decisions, “…autonomous decisions as those made intentionally and with substantial understanding and freedom from controlling influences” (Entwistle, Carter, Cribb, & McCaffery, 2010). When all information is provided, the individual can make an informed decision about their health care and have a right to no influencing factors. The health care directive document provide people the opportunity to consent to or refuse treatment and who will have the authority to make decisions on the individual’s behalf if unconscious, or mental incapacity arise (The Health Care Directives Act, 1992). In order to fully practice autonomy, especially in regards to health care directives, the appropriate mental development is key to comprehending
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political, and bioethical reasoning. Inside these connections, it is the limit of a sound individual to make an educated, unpressured decision. Patient autonomy can conflict with clinician autonomy and, in such a clash of values, it is not obvious which should prevail. (Lantos, Matlock & Wendler, 2011). In order to gain informed consent, a patient
Autonomy is identified as another professional value and one that the nurse must possess. Autonomy is the right to self-determination. Nurse’s respect the patient’s right to make a decision regarding their healthcare. Practical application includes, educating patients and their families on their choices, honoring their right to make their own decision and stay in control of their health, developing care plans in collaboration with the patient (Taylor, C. Lillis, C. LeMone, P. Lynn, P,
The concept analysis of autonomy will be analyzed according to the Walker and Avant method of concept analysis. Walker and Avant (2005) present a strategy for analyzing concepts in a comprehensive manner to present new theories and a common definition for different concepts. The current as well as historical meaning is an important aspect to analyze the concept of autonomy, as one must understand how one simple four syllable word grew into such a powerful concept. Definitive attributes drawn from the concept mapped for future use as well as case study as outlined by Walker and Avant (2005). The necessary attributes are then plugged into model, borderline, related and contrary cases so that full concept involvement and understanding is determined. Antecedents as well as consequences of the concept are also discussed for positive and negative connotations can clarify the meaning of the concept of autonomy. Finally the empirical referents of actual phenomena can be realized as Walker and Avant (2005) strive to explain and simplify the concept analysis.
Gillick competency is the notion that children can consent to medical treatment without the knowledge of their parents, provided that they can show that they have the maturity and mental capacity to fully comprehend the nature and implications of the proposed treatment. In medicine, this idea is especially applicable to circumstances wherein older children have conflicting views with their guardian or an older adult about the administration of an intervention. A child who has engaged, or plans to engage in sexual activity seeking a prescription for contraception could be an example of a situation wherein Gillick Competency can apply. Here, an older
As we see in the world today many teens are becoming mothers before they finish high school or before they turn 18. Although some teens are on birth control already many are not because they are afraid to tell their parents which may lead to their parents thinking they are sexually active. Moreover, teens usually find themselves in a professional clinic trying to seek different options of birth control but they are derailed by having parental consent or notification. Many clinics have a policy were teen needs to have parental consent to receive birth control. Many parents feel that teens should be able to make the choice by themselves if they are having sex or just being careful.
Children are perceived as not being able to access the appropriate resources needed, therefore it is considered an adults’ responsibility to intervene and provide a suitable intervention (Mishna et al., 2004). Researchers conducting studies with children are challenged to carefully balance the need to protect young people while not infringing on their rights to confidentiality. While confidentiality should be respected, there are situations in which keeping all information private might cause greater harm to the child than disclosure. Circumstances under which researcher are required to disclose information include conditions where a legal obligation exists (e.g., disclosure of child abuse) or where there is an immediate risk of harm (e.g., serious threat of suicide) that can only be prevented by releasing information (Kemper, Fangerau, & Fegert, 2010; Kobocow, McGuire, & Blau, 1983). Researchers have an ethical duty to release information to the proper authority if they feel a child is at risk (Beresford,
This gap between the minimal and more substantive requirements of autonomy leaves open obvious questions about the extent to which autonomous actions must be rational ; how differences over the rationality of various desires, choices, and evaluations can be settled; and overall whether autonomy is actually the core or defining value of liberalism. Some scholars for instance, think that instead of autonomy, toleration is the core commitment of liberalism. Chandran Kukathas is such a scholar. In his article “Cultural Toleration,” he provides a liberal approach for coping with the competing claims of the individual and their community.
This class has enlightened me to many topics that make up the subject of organizational behavior. However, there is one topic that has gained my attention, and that is Autonomy. Autonomy gained my attention because it is when management lessens its controls on the way employees complete their tasks, sometimes even allowing employees to do their jobs without any supervision at all. Autonomy is interesting to me because it is breaking the traditional mindset of micromanaging and that it was the only way to improve productivity.
There are some questions a patient 's doctor must be a secret, you can not tell a third party about the problem. Another example, if a teenager says to a doctor, "I am depressed, I have been trying to kill myself" ( "Youth confidential: a young person 's right to privacy"). Doctors are not sure of information, because the doctor is this guy right help. Teen confidentiality concerns may be an important barrier to access to health services. Adolescents have the right to contraception confidentiality when it comes to contraception.