Open AccessWhat to do when a parent or guardian tries to override a legally competent child’s consent to a surgical operation
Author(s) -
David McQuoid–Mason
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
samj. south african medical journal/south african medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.527
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 2078-5135
pISSN - 0256-9574
DOI - 10.7196/samj.2018.v108i12.13492
Subject(s) - guardian , medicine , legal guardian , informed consent , law , parental consent , alternative medicine , pathology , political science
Guidelines are provided for doctors where a parent or guardian tries to override an otherwise legally competent child's consent to a surgical operation by refusing to provide the assistance required by the Children's Act. Consideration is given to whether an otherwise legally competent child is competent to consent to a surgical operation when this can be overridden by their parent or guardian, and the legal position regarding informed consent by a child to the surgical termination of her pregnancy.