Author Question: Parents or guardians have authority to make choices about their child's health care in almost all ... (Read 74 times)

darbym82 · **on:** Jun 28, 2018

Parents or guardians have authority to make choices about their child's health care in almost all circumstances. In which situation would the parents or guardians not have such authority? When the child:

1. Begins to develop competence in health care decisions.
2. And parents do not agree on major treatment options.
3. Is able to understand concrete explanations.
4. Is considered to be a mature minor.

Question 2

A mother refuses to have her child immunized with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine because she believes that letting her infant get these diseases will help him fight off other diseases later in life.

The nurse's most appropriate response to this mother is to: 1. Honor her request because she is the parent.
2. Explain that antibodies can fight many diseases.
3. Tell her that she is assisting to protect pregnant women against these diseases by not immunizing her infant with the MMR.

4. Explain that if her child contracts measles, mumps, or rubella, there could be very serious and permanent complications from these diseases.

cpetit11 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 28, 2018

Answer to Question 1

2
Rationale:
1. The child would need to have more than just a beginning competence to nullify the parents' authority.
2. Parents and guardians have absolute authority to make choices about their child's health care except in these cases:
When the child and parents do not agree on major treatment options
When the parents' choice of treatment does not permit life-saving treatment for the child
When there is a potential conflict of interest between the child and parents, such as with suspected child abuse or neglect
3. Understanding concrete operations is a start, but is not enough to nullify the parents' authority.
4. Being a mature minor does not eliminate the need to obtain the parents' informed consent, as they still maintain authority over their child.

Answer to Question 2

4
Rationale:
1. Honoring her request is not correct, because the nurse has a professional duty to explain that the mother's belief about immunizations is erroneous, and could result in harm to her infant.
2. Explaining that antibodies can fight many diseases is not correct, because the body makes antibodies that are specific to antigens of each disease. Antibodies for one disease cannot fight another disease.
3. Telling her that not immunizing her infant might protect pregnant women is not correct, because immunizing the infant with MMR vaccine will help protect pregnant women from contracting rubella by decreasing the transmission. If a pregnant woman contracts rubella, her fetus can be severely damaged with congenital rubella syndrome.
4. Explaining that if her child contracts measles, mumps, or rubella, he could have very serious and permanent complications from these diseases is correct because measles, mumps, and rubella all have potentially serious sequelae, such as encephalitis, brain damage, and deafness.