why do parents refuse medical treatment for their child

United Kingdom. Parents cannot invoke their right to religious freedom to refuse treatment for a child. PARENTAL RIGHT TO REFUSE MEDICAL TREATMENT Nothing could be more harmful to a child than the government ripping that child from his/her parents simply because the government thinks it knows better, labeling a parent as unfit because the parent has the audacity to have a different opinion regarding what is in the child's best interest. This essay is to state how the law adequately protect children who wish to consent or refuse medical treatment? Why parents refuse immunization? 16 In view of this fact, the parents or guardians are usually given the power to consent or refuse medical treatment for their children. All states have laws prohibiting child abuse and neglect. If a young person refuses treatment, which may lead to their death or a severe permanent injury, their decision can be overruled by the Court of Protection. The bigger question to me is why would a parent refuse to provide treatment to a child? In the case of children, it is assumed in law that all children under the age of ten years will not have sufficient competence to refuse or consent to medical treatment. Reasons why parents do not consent to medical treatments and interventions are many ... Amendment right to abuse or neglect their children, and therefore, there is possible criminal liability when parents refuse medical treatment for their child based on religious or cultural grounds. Parents also bear the primary burden of the medical decisions made for their children, caring for them in the long term. It makes no sense to me. I do not think that a parent has the right to refuse a child medical treatment especially if the cure is there and the child has a chance to live a happy healthy life after treatment. However, contrary to what many may think, parents do not have the legal right to refuse medical care for their children if that decision could mean the child coming to harm. Another approach, one that seeks to optimize the therapeutic alliance with this family seems much more likely to realize the desired outcome: promoting the child’s short- and long-term well being. They have a right to consult multiple physicians, they have the right to consul physicians about the various options available for their children and they do have the right to seek out alternative therapies that may assist in bringing their child back to health. Religious beliefs or not I'm doing whatever it takes to save my daughter And if they do not, then this mother should be charged with manslaughter!! Antagonizing the parents by imposing treatment may result in their avoiding Dr. Pittman or medical care altogether. When parents wish to withhold or discontinue standard proven treatment in a child with cancer that has a likelihood of long-term cure, referral to the local child protection agency is indicated because a parent's inability to provide adequate care for a child is a criminal offense. 17 For further guidance on these issues see GMC guidance on decision making and consent and treatment and care towards the end of life. The court, in upholding the parents’ conviction, stated that Pennsylvania does not recognize the mature minor doc- It follows that the right of child and parent to refuse treatment is not absolute. "They obviously weren't heard by their medical team. If the doctors believe the parents are not acting in the child’s best interest, they can go to court and try to convince a judge that the court should take temporary custody of the child and appoint a guardian who will allow the treatment. Children: A parent or guardian cannot refuse life-sustaining treatment or deny medical care from a child. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the short answer is that the refusal of a competent minor, and if needs be that of their parents, can be overridden by a court if it is in their best interests so to do. She was born with a small hole in her heart that, if she had gotten surgery to close it, would have prevented the further disabilities she endured throughout her lifetime. And I will therefore evaluate the capacity . A British law requires parents to seek medical help for their children, if the child's condition does not improve after 72 hours of non-medical treatment. 17. However, the law is less clear on the aptitude of a mature, competent child to refuse medical treatment. But in 34 states (as well as the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico), there are exemptions in the civil child abuse statutes when medical treatment for a child conflicts with the religious beliefs of parents, according to data collected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A parent's job is to raise happy and healthy children. 'At risk' Bertie Leigh, senior partner for the medical law firm Hempsons, told BBC News Online: "Parents are only entitled to refuse treatment when it's in the best interests of the child. But no parent has the right to essentially "force" their child to die when a cure is so obvious and available. When the rationale for refusal is religion, and especially when the treatment being refused is potentially lifesaving, the situation becomes more complex. Parents should also know we physicians are not blaming them for their child’s illness, but they are responsible for getting their child appropriate treatment. But the parental right to make medical decisions is not unlimited. ... celebrities and lay-people with anecdotal evidence and even scientific sources such as some universities and some medical doctors push their views on anti-vaccination, which proves to make the decision to vaccinate more difficult on parents. We also sometimes allow parents to refuse medical care for their children because of their strongly held religious convictions, though courts have been willing to step in and require clearly lifesaving and relatively low risk treatments such as blood transfusions or standard surgeries, even against the wishes of parents. 12, 43. In an emergency, where treatment is vital and waiting for parental consent would place the child at risk, treatment can proceed without consent. This includes those with religious beliefs that discourage certain medical treatments. Parental Refusal of Consent for their Child's Medical Treatment: An Ethical, Professional and Legal Dilemma. It makes no matter what the child wants; childern are smart but they are still childern and even though they may seem to understand, most of them do not and they need guidence and understanding. When consent can be overruled. That type of legislation may be more effective. Parents have a duty to act in the best interests of their children from the children's perspective and not to inflict harm. In most circumstances, this extends to a parent’s right to refuse treatment for their minor child (2). They stood by and watched their children die. Well established in British law, is the fundamental principle that every person’s body is inviolate. You can provide medical treatment to a child or young person with their consent if they are competent, ... or if both a young person with capacity and their parents refuse such treatment. One after another, Dr. Paul Offit described the parents who prayed instead of getting their children the medical are they needed. The limits of parental authority to accept or refuse medical treatment. Why Parents Refuse Treatment In my experience, the most frequent reason for parental refusal of treatment stems from a lack of understanding. I have been involved in cases like that from time to time. Cases in this murky area will be presented during an interactive group forum titled “Minors and Medical Decision-Making: Can a Child Refuse Treatment?” The session will be held from 8:30-10:00 am Saturday, Sept. 16 (I1050) and again from 8:30-10:00 am Sunday, Sept. 17 (I2052). Parents do not have an absolute right to refuse medical treatment for their children based on their religious beliefs. Always put your children's needs at the top of your list. It would be a blatant form of neglect. Parents do have rights when it comes to the medical treatment of children. Wiad Lek . Not much. ! I hope they find this child before it is too late. So, what can parents living in a state that requires a minor to consent to treatment do when their child refuses treatment? 2016;69(3 Pt 1):346-51. While the Hauser case is an example of the court going against parents' … Some parents’ reasons for refusing medical treatment are based on their religious or spiritual beliefs. Religion or not, at some point we must use a little common sense. Mariah Walton is the child of parents who were fundamentalist Mormons that refused to get her medical treatment as a baby. Parents can claim that they did not realize that their child's condition was very serious; they can claim lack of medical knowledge. Miller G. The legal and ethical right of parents to refuse medical treatment for their children differs from the authority possessed by competent adults with decisional capacity. 2-Year-Old Girl Dies After Faith-Healing Parents Refuse Medical Treatment: Officials Jonathan and Grace Foster attributed the Nov. 8 death of their daughter, Ella Grace Foster, to … of medical treatment.7 The parents, honoring their child’s refusal of medical treatment, were subsequently convicted of manslaughter for failing to seek necessary treatment for their child’s life-threatening illness. Refuse to help: Parents do have the right to refuse their child mental health treatment up to a point. I'm taking about parents refusing their kids chemo. 16, 17 Their wishes are seen to be evidence of the child's best interests. We felt the same way." 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