THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL STATUS OF CHILDREN IN HEALTH-CARE IN THE UK

Ethical issues about children's rights in respect of matters concernin g resource allocation or treatment opportunities are now a matter for public consumption and concern. Alongside this exists a long-frustrate d desire by children's nurses to promote children's health. Long-held assumptions about the legal and moral status of children within the he alth care system in this country are now rightly scrutinized and chall enged. Those of us who claim to represent children now possess an oppo rtunity to exploit public attention for the benefit of these children. This article will explore selected major relevant legal and moral con cepts that relate to children with the aim of making transparent some of the important and often confusing information available. It is anti cipated that debates about the legal and ethical status of children ma y be stimulated and fuelled from the following discussion It is strong ly recommended that entering into dialogue with families and children about their perceived needs will go a long way towards advancing thoug htful nursing care of individual children, their families and the gene ral population.