Should Adolescents Be Allowed To Make Their Own Decisions?
Should Adolescent be allowed to Make Their Own Life and Death Decisions?
Advances in biomedical technology have to cures that were only imagined a few years ago (Stein, et al. 2001). New ethical dilemmas have been brought into medical care of patients by these advances, especially those with life-threatening condition. Decisions for medical treatment must include a thorough understanding of the procedure and major side effects, especially pain and disability and their duration (Stein, et al. 2001). In the decision process, cognitive and psychological competency has always been important. Guidelines have been developed for critically ill adults and patients with severe mental illness to assist clinicians and families in the evaluation of competency (Stein, et al. 2001). The decision to accept or reject a potentially life-saving medical procedure is also affected by developmental considerations for an adolescent with a serious illness. I’m against adolescents making decisions about life in death. Adolescent have a developmental trajectory that is not yet like an adult’s. It’s a gray area when you have an adolescent making the decision (Tu, 2007) Physicians and parents should communicate with the patient to assess its maturity, whether its beliefs are well grounded and arrived at without coercion, and whether he or she truly understands the consequence of his decision. No matter how competent adolescents appear to be, they may still be too influenced by fear to be allowed free rein. Is it appropriate or practical to force an adolescent to accept prolonged treatment against he or her will? Consent for medical procedure or treatment is considered as a basic requirement for the provision of health care (Stein, et al. 2001). It’s an ethical obligation to ensure respect for patients and their autonomy. A mature minor is one who can comprehend the risks and benefits of the proposed treatment and is therefore able
Advances in biomedical technology have to cures that were only imagined a few years ago (Stein, et al. 2001). New ethical dilemmas have been brought into medical care of patients by these advances, especially those with life-threatening condition. Decisions for medical treatment must include a thorough understanding of the procedure and major side effects, especially pain and disability and their duration (Stein, et al. 2001). In the decision process, cognitive and psychological competency has always been important. Guidelines have been developed for critically ill adults and patients with severe mental illness to assist clinicians and families in the evaluation of competency (Stein, et al. 2001). The decision to accept or reject a potentially life-saving medical procedure is also affected by developmental considerations for an adolescent with a serious illness. I’m against adolescents making decisions about life in death. Adolescent have a developmental trajectory that is not yet like an adult’s. It’s a gray area when you have an adolescent making the decision (Tu, 2007) Physicians and parents should communicate with the patient to assess its maturity, whether its beliefs are well grounded and arrived at without coercion, and whether he or she truly understands the consequence of his decision. No matter how competent adolescents appear to be, they may still be too influenced by fear to be allowed free rein. Is it appropriate or practical to force an adolescent to accept prolonged treatment against he or her will? Consent for medical procedure or treatment is considered as a basic requirement for the provision of health care (Stein, et al. 2001). It’s an ethical obligation to ensure respect for patients and their autonomy. A mature minor is one who can comprehend the risks and benefits of the proposed treatment and is therefore able
References: Stein, T. M., et al (2001). Decision making about medical care in an adolescent with a life-threatening illness. Pediatrics, 107(4), 979-981. Retrieved at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/107/Supplement_1/979.full.pdf Tu, I. J. (2007). Are teens old enough for life/death decisions? Health. Retrieved at http://seattletimes.com/html/health/2004043788_jehovah30m.html