ADOLESCENT DECISION-MAKING - GIVING WEIGHT TO AGE-SPECIFIC VALUES

Adults who give proxy consent for medical treatment for adolescents mu st decide how much weight to give to adolescents' own preferences. The re is evidence that some adolescents choose treatments different from what adults see as most reasonable. It is argued that adolescents choo se according to age-specific values, i.e. values they hold, as adolesc ents, and which fulfil important developmental needs. Because not fulf illing these needs may do serious psychological damage, it is urged th at proxies give weight to these values, up to the limit where it would endanger or profoundly limit future life.