Children’s ages of consent to non-urgent heart surgery: The views of two paediatric cardiology teams

Alderson, Priscilla; Bellsham-Revell, Hannah; King, Liz; Vigneswaran, Trisha and Wray, Jo (2023). Children’s ages of consent to non-urgent heart surgery: The views of two paediatric cardiology teams. Children and Society (Early Access).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12717

Abstract

Paediatric cardiology practitioners and related experts report unusually young ages when they begin to inform children about their non-urgent heart surgery and begin to respect children's consent or refusal. Research methods included observations in two paediatric cardiology units, audio-recorded interviews with 45 experts, and qualitative data analysis. Significantly younger ages were cited than are usually recommended in the clinical and legal literature. Interviewed practitioners took seriously children's consent to or refusal of a heart transplant from around 6 years, and a child's firm refusal of induction of anaesthesia from around 4 years, when surgery might be postponed.

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About

• Item ORO ID
• 88138
• Item Type
• Journal Item
• ISSN
• 1099-0860
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  Exploring ages of consent to children's heart surgery	546781	British Heart Foundation (BHF)

• Extra Information
• assent; capacity; competence; informed consent; resistance
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Health, Wellbeing and Social Care > Nursing
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS)
• Research Group
• Children Young People and Families
• Copyright Holders
• © 2023 The Authors
• Depositing User
• Elizabeth King