Health and Sexuality
9.1. People under eighteen should be entitled to the same rights of medical consent that over18s have.
Currently, under18s have virtually no control over their own medical treatment. Consent for medical treatment is granted not by the patient but rather by his or her parents. Doctors must follow the wishes of the patient's parents, even if they differ from those of the patient. For example, a 14-year-old was "voluntarily" placed in a psychiatric institution against his wishes by his parents in what became the infamous Parham v. J.R. Supreme Court case. In another instance, another 14-year-old was refused drug rehabilitation because he did not have parental consent, which he could not obtain since his parents were drug dealers. Michael A. Grodin and Joel J. Alpert of the Boston University School of Medicine wrote "Adolescents (13 years of age or older) are usually equipped with the cognitive capacity to understand the nature of their medical problem as well as are adults." That in mind, complete control over an adolescent's medical treatment should be in the hands of the patient, unless he or she is physically unable to grant consent. Furthermore, young people should be protected by full confidentiality. Insurers should be forbidden from releasing details of a young family member's treatment to his or her parents. In any government insurance program, the same standard should apply.