Australia - Who Decides? - Children? - Children can decide their medical treatments under the only laws of anticipation of victory.

[Bible Speaks]

Australia - Who Decides? - Children? - Children can decide their medical treatments under the only laws of anticipation of victory.

We are all afraid of a moment when we could lose the ability to decide what medical treatments to accept or reject. This is why Australian governments have promoted advanced care planning, which means discussing and expressing preferences about the type of medical care that you or would not want in a situation where you lack mental capacity to make decisions .

Writing an early-warning directive is part of the planning process, but a directive means that the person's preferences are bound to be followed by the law. All States and territories have different laws that allow adults to make advanced care plans or directives. In Victoria, the new legislation will enter into force in March 2018, creating clear obligations for health professionals to respect early guidelines.

A globally unique aspect of the 2016 Victoria medical planning and decision-making act is that it allows children to make early directives. In The Netherlands, children aged 12 or more may make early decisions requesting euthanasia if their parents give their consent. Early palliative care guidelines have also been used in the United States, but they have no legal authority, merely the state of "moral persuasion".
In Victoria there will be no age limit, so anyone can establish a directive, provided they are competent to do so. This means that a person can understand the nature of the treatment that is taking decisions and the potential results if the advanced care directive is followed.

At first glance, it may seem irresponsible to give children the power over their future medical treatment, which in many cases are a matter of life and death. But it is important to respect the autonomy of young people in their health-care choices. It encourages its commitment to treatment, gives voice to its values and provides a sense of empowerment at a time when the disease can diminish its control of events.

Are the children capable?

While adolescents are more likely to participate in risk behaviour and be influenced by the opinions of their friends, they are less likely to affect their decisions on treatment at the hospital. A recent study showed that 12-Year-olds have the competence to make medical decisions. But, of course, this depends on the kind of decision that is taken.

A decision involving risky and complex treatment would require a high level of competition. However, children with terminal and chronic diseases will know a lot about their diseases and the impact of treatment. In 2008, a 13-Year-old English girl refused to accept a heart transplant after having spent six operations in two years. She showed her case officer and the hospital that she could make an informed decision and had weighed the risks of surgery and potential benefits (though she later changed her mind).
We may consider it appropriate to protect young people from taking decisions which are deemed to be harmful and against their interests. Ethical dilemmas usually occur when children do not go with what the doctors propose. The courts have annulled the decisions of the competent minors to refuse treatment in cases where this refusal leads to permanent disability or death.

For example, in Sydney a 17-Year-old boy refused to receive blood transfusions because of his beliefs as Jehovah's witness. The judge annulled the child's decision after having considered that preserving his life was more powerful than respect for the child's faith.

A similar case occurred in England in 1993. Here, a 15-Year-old boy, whom the judge described as "smart", rejected a blood transfusion as part of the treatment of leukemia for religious reasons. The judge considered him incompetent to make such a decision because the boy could not understand the pain he would suffer, the fear of dying, and the affliction caused to his family.
The new laws of victory will mean that the decisions taken before the power is lost will be followed, so the directive cannot be annulled. But there are strict safeguards and requirements for an advanced care directive.

It must be written in English, signed and attested. At least one of the witnesses must be a doctor who must certify that the person seems to have the ability to make decisions and understand the effect of the statements made. In the case of a child, the doctor may help them to appreciate the implications of the early directive and ensure that it is consistent and practically applicable.

When a child can write a directive

Early Directives can be made for any future treatment, not only situations where the person is terminally ill or has a condition that shortens his life. However, minors are likely to write early directives to inform their end-of-life care.

An early directive enters into force when the child is unable to make decisions as a result of his illness. Victorian legislation provides that if a child has made a valid early directive in which he has included instructions to reject a particular medical treatment, such as dialysis or chemotherapy, a health professional should not provide such treatment.

The Prior self-determination of the child is respected, although those who treat him do not believe that the decision is in his best interest.

The law also allows for a securities directive, which is different from the instructive. The Values Directive records the preferences and values of a person for future treatment. A young person diagnosed with cancer can put more emphasis on the rest of the quality of life and death worthy than lasting painful treatment. A Securities Directive will mean that the decision-Maker for medical treatment will have to consider treatment based on the patient's values.

Parents want to protect their children and health professionals want to do the best for their patients. Early Guidelines should be drafted as a collaboration between the child, health professionals and, ideally, parents. This will make it possible to understand the possible treatment options, their benefits and damage, and the impact of rejecting certain treatments, which will lead to a meaningful and effective advance decision.

[Srecko Sostar]

If we take in consideration WTJWorg custom (and encouraging young ones inside org) to accept decisions from 5-15 year old kids to be baptised and by that become part of organization about what they know nothing, then kids are capable to make decision on every life matter- driving licence, married, job, school. Because by WT way of thinking - to get baptised is the most important decision in Life that every person can make. All other decisions in life are less important if are important at all in comparison to this one - be baptised as JW.

Some kids can show more maturity than some adults about something, and today's time is different than before past years. Children "swallowing" more and more info than generation before so they "know" many things, even more than adults in some things. Older are to confident that they "know" enough. All in all we all making "informative" decisions. :)))

[Evacuated]

24 minutes ago, Srecko Sostar said:

if are important at all

Over extension. Might have been in your case but not in the mind of a balanced person.

You make other, similar, extreme statements that may well reflect your own thinking, but should not be assumed as a basis for everyone else's.

[Bible Speaks]

@Srecko Sostar

@Gone Fishing

I grew up in the Truth. A young person "thinks" they "know" enough. I was "spiritually mature" at 16 and "physically mature." Married at 16 1/2 did I "know enough?" NO! Emotional maturity comes with experience, as we age, boy we learn the hard way! I taught my 4 children Jehovah's way and they were all successful even if their Father never set that example. I never went over his head.

Children today, who have not been disciplined feel that discipline is wrong. Spare the rod and spoil the child? Many young ones perhaps in this article, feel justified in having freedom to even report parents to the court that they are harming them? My hard learned life! 

??????????

These are the children today. Freedom means no direction! What it comes down to by me.Young ones are prone to act on impulse or to give in to “the desires incidental to youth.” (2 Timothy 2:22) The Bible warns: “The rod and reproof are what give wisdom; but a boy let on the loose will be causing his mother shame.” (Proverbs 29:15) A failure to have limits on youthful behavior leaves a child unprepared for the demands and pressures of life away from home.

In a clear and responsible way, Christian parents should outline for their children the difficulties, pressures, and realities of life in this system of things. Without being pessimistic or negative, they can describe the unpleasant conditions a youth may face if he has to live away from home. This training, coupled with God-given wisdom, will “give to the inexperienced ones shrewdness, to a young man knowledge and thinking ability.”—Proverbs 1:4.

Parents who instill godly values and moral principles in the hearts of their children enable them to survive the challenges of life. Regular family Bible study, open communication, and genuine interest in their offspring’s welfare, can make the difference between success and failure. Parents should provide godly training in a balanced yet positive and reasonable way, preparing their children to stand on their own feet later in life. By personal example, parents can teach their children that it is possible to be in the world but to be no part of it.—John 17:15, 16.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2003764?q=child+on+loose&p=par

[Srecko Sostar]

17 hours ago, Bible Speaks said:

I grew up in the Truth.

Thanks for respond. I knew also few interesting and difficult experiences about JW families, parents, children, and mutual relations after one or few family member stop to go in hall or to believe in WT doctrines (dogmas is better word). Some parents, even single parents trow child out of house (because elders pressure them  to do so) even child is minor and have problems in many ways.

My very critical thoughts and language i used sometimes while commenting on this forum is product of knowing other side of JWorg medal, (dark side of "spiritual paradise") stories that is under curtain of family life, that is not seen, spoke publicly in KH Sunday meetings. Interactions when elder of congregations are so eager and zealous to help, because of high level of self righteous and spirituality :)))) and he is not just young or inexperienced person, in fact one of first elders not only in  congregation but in whole country, appointed to come from different place and country, before many many years. His helping to that family and children, ended in the way that this minor kid cuted her veins. Lucky for her not with deadly end. But this kid is so terrible ruined in psyche in emotion, soul. Everything has started with rebuke and  disapproval from elders side when one summer, father of that few kids (who is ex-JW) called his minor kids to spend some time at holidays. And kids done that (with knowledge of mother who is JW) Ohhh what great sin they done :))))))) or :(((((((       

Mixing OT and NT counsels with WT interpretations on bible text, how parents need to teach, counsel, discipline their children is/are very problematic, uninspired with too much error. If whole bible is inspired and serve as role model than it is little tricky to use some Old Testament "principles" (what is principles??? which principles???) in some bible verses or examples, constructing  type-anytype model??? or more, then pick some verses from NT verses and applicate all that amalgam into today time and people. You have, as result people inside JWorg who feel that they will never reach such goal, always feel guilty because that, pushed to do more and more in this or that "christian" activity. You have more than half of congregational population who are lost, lost between normal, genuine, god's given Natural conscience on one side and Artificial "bible trained conscience" regulated and imposed by WTJWorg.