Children's consent to treatment: using a scale to assess degree of self-determination
Author
Summary, in English
Discussion and debate regarding decision-making that is 'in the best interest of the child' and that also considers the child's voice in these decisions have increased in recent years. A study was undertaken to identify everyday situations in medical and nursing care in which children had been allowed to have a voice or been denied the right. Twenty-six hospitalized children, ages 6 to 17 years, and 21 parents were interviewed concerning their experiences with hospitalization. The interviews contained examples of 100 situations in which the children could have had a say in decisions concerning their care and treatment. An instrument describing five levels of self-determination was used to analyze the situations. The results showed that there are situations in the daily care of children who are hospitalized where it is possible to discuss the degree of self-determination of the child. To different degrees, staff members honored children's choices in questions concerning their own health.
Department/s
Publishing year
2000
Language
English
Pages
455-455
Publication/Series
Pediatric nursing
Volume
26
Issue
5
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Jannetti Publications
Topic
- Medical Ethics
- Nursing
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0097-9805