Citizens' advice in general practice. A burden GPs could do without.
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Abstract
the 120 experienced young patients interviewed, 13 (aged 8 to 15 years) said that they were the "main decider" about proposed surgery, and their parents agreed.Health professionals discussed the wish of certain children, aged from 7 years, to refuse or postpone treatment.This was respected in cases of proposed surgical leg lengthening, spinal fusion for scoliosis, amputation (of toes), heart-lung transplantation, and growth hormone treatment.Articles reporting empirical studies of child patients' decision making are more likely to further the spirit of the 1989 Children Act than is abstract debate.They would help to ensure that clinical practice is not unduly influenced by retiring judges, and that legal judgments are influenced by reasonable doctors3 in daily contact with young patients.