THE ROLE OF ADOLESCENTS IN DECISIONS CONCERNING THEIR CANCER-THERAPY

Because adolescents are codified as incompetents, their health care de cision-making authority often is encroached upon. When a teenager deve lops a serious disease such as cancer, others are even more likely to appropriate decision-making authority than under normal circumstances. Adolescents can contribute to decisions concerning their treatment pr ovided certain guidelines are used. These guidelines stem from bioethi cal concerns and our understanding of the development in cognitive abi lity related to decision-making. This article summarizes consideration s relating to each of these two areas. Because the clinical stage of t he malignancy also affects bioethical concerns, the adolescent's role in decision-making at the time of initial diagnosis and recurrence are discussed.