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The Conundrum of Children in the Us Health Care SystemIndiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA One area in which childrens rights are rarely considered in the USA is that of autonomy over their bodies. This right is routinely ignored in the arena of health care decision making. Children are routinely excluded from expressing their opinions involving medical decisions that affect them. This article discusses the complex reasons why childrens voices are typically not heard in the USA, the consequences of their disempowerment, and the ethical obligations of health care providers to advocate for the rights of children, even in the absence of a legal mandate to do so.
Key Words: childrens rights health care decision making legal-ethical issues professional ethics UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Nursing Ethics, Vol. 8, No. 3,
196-210 (2001) |
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