Comparative analysis of child consent laws in health care decisions in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38140/jjs.v51i1.10251Keywords:
adolescents, minor, consent, medical intervention, Gillick competence, evolving capacityAbstract
Over the last few decades, laws worldwide have increasingly evolved to allow minors to, inter alia, consent to their own health care services. These laws, when compared, are oftentimes inconsistent with one another, with variations between countries as regards the minimum age of consent, the classes of minors that may consent, and the context within which consent may be considered valid. Furthermore, these laws have altered the discourse on health care access as it relates to children, specifically because health care providers must adhere to minor consent laws when addressing the needs of adolescent patients. Considering the above it is crucial, in a comparative and medico legal context, to understand whether and how minors may consent on their own to receive various types of health care services. This paper reflects on the way in which various jurisdictions, including South Africa, have treated the issue of child consent when it comes to health care decisions and services. It provides a brief overview of the laws governing minors’ capacity to consent to health care, considering the complexity of the concept of evolving legal standing and the process of children’s participation in the health care environment. Comparing South Africa with the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada reveals distinct legal philosophies, specifically the shift from fixed-age limits to “competence-based” assessments. Consequently, the paper recommends that South Africa would do well to develop guiding principles for assessing a child’s decision-making capacity in line with international practices.
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