What is Medical Emancipation?
Medical Emancipation allows the minor to make his or her own decisions about medical treatment. Main reasons that a minor wants to obtain Medical Emancipation is because the minor expresses different views on medical treatment than what their parents do and when the minor wants to handle their own treatment without notifying their parents of what they're doing. Many states have their own law of when a minor is considered to be fully emancipated from their parent. However, when a children's decisions contradicts their parent's, a court case is often needed. The public has been split when it comes to this topic. Many have their own beliefs on the benefits and risks of medical emancipation towards a minor.
http://www.mamashealth.com/patient/medicalminor.asp
This link contains information about medical emancipation and how minors can obtain emancipation from their parents.
http://www.mamashealth.com/patient/medicalminor.asp
This link contains information about medical emancipation and how minors can obtain emancipation from their parents.
The Controversies
Against Medical Emancipation
People who are against medical emancipation of minors feel they lack the responsibility and maturity to make major decisions. Minors lack experience and cognitive ability regarding the choice of their medical treatment. Children are more vulnerable and look at only short term consequences when making decisions for themselves. Minors may not understand potential risks and outcomes of their choices. People think that minors could potentially abuse this right if they choose to be medically emancipated.
http://www.bhslr.edu/!userfiles/pdfs/course-materials/Minors%20Rights%20in%20Medical%20Decision%20Making.pdf This link contains information about how minors lack competence when making life time decisions. |
For Medical Emancipation
Emancipation of a minor means the individual is no longer restricted under their parents authority. This is helpful when a child disagrees with their parents decisions toward their well-being. People feel minors are incompetent when regarding life time decisions for themselves. However, everyone has the right to their own body and their right to refuse and accept treatment. Also, many feel some minors show maturity and deserved a voice when deciding their own treatment.
http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/cearticle?tid=739795 This link contains information on why minors have the option to be medically emancipated. |