An adolescent client with terminal cancer tells the nurse that she does not want any more treatment, even though her parents are planning for her to participate in a study trial that involves aggressive chemotherapy
Which action by the nurse is the most appropriate?
A) Tell the client that the decision is her parents' and she has to participate in the study.
B) Tell her that, at 16, she can make her own decisions no matter what her parents want.
C) Request that the parents and daughter meet together with the healthcare team to discuss options and the implications of various choices.
D) Tell her not to worry, that she knows her parents want the best for her.
Answer: C
Adolescents with a serious medical condition are more capable of making treatment decisions than most teenagers. However, the Patient Self- Determination Act of 1990 limits the legal rights of individuals younger than 18 to make their own healthcare decisions. If the adolescent states a desire to withdraw from or refuse treatment, her parents and healthcare team should discuss the reasons for her decision and help her understand the implications of her decision and any treatment alternatives that may influence her choice. Telling her not to worry does not address the problem.
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