Online Archive of University of Virginia Scholarship
Allowing Adolescents to Make Life-and-Death Decisions about Themselves: Rights and Responsibilities of Adolescents, Families, and the State1103 views
Author
Markowitz, Monika Schmidt, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia
Advisors
Childress, Jim, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia
Lombardo, Paul
Mohrmann, Margaret, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia
Arras, John, Department of Philosophy, University of Virginia
Abstract
There is consensus among scholars writing in bioethics, medicine, and the law, that adolescents ought to participate in health care decision making about themselves. There is less agreement on what adolescent 'participation' means and about the range of health care decisions that adolescents can and should make, especially whether adolescents should be able to have ultimate authority over life-and-death decision making about themselves. This dissertation argues that adolescents should not be allowed to exercise such authority in the life-and-death decision making setting. A current, misconstrued 'respect' for adolescent autonomy is not justified by our inadequate understanding of decision making capacity, especially for adolescents who are in danger of making medical decisions that may greatly impact their future. Deliberation ought to be guided by a triadic approach that incorporates the interests, roles, and responsibilities of parents, health care providers, and the adolescent in a therapeutic alliance focused on beneficence to the adolescent patient.
Note: Abstract extracted from PDF text
Degree
PHD (Doctor of Philosophy)
Keywords
adolescents; health care decisions; life and death
Language
English
Rights
All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)
Markowitz, Monika Schmidt. Allowing Adolescents to Make Life-and-Death Decisions about Themselves: Rights and Responsibilities of Adolescents, Families, and the State. University of Virginia, Department of Religious Studies, PHD (Doctor of Philosophy), 2006-08-01, https://doi.org/10.18130/V3NZ98.
