Question

A 7-year-old boy with asthma requires inhaled Salbutamol via spacer in surgery. His parents are divorced and both have parental responsibility. The mother brings him and consents to treatment; the father telephones later objecting to all medicines. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Continue to treat the child because one parent with parental responsibility has consented and treatment is in the child’s best interests.

Answer

Stop all treatment until written consent is obtained from both parents.

Answer

Refuse to treat the child unless the court authorises treatment.

Answer

Ask the child to consent on his own and ignore parental views.

Answer

Only provide emergency treatment but withhold routine care until the dispute is resolved.

Practice question

A 7-year-old boy with asthma requires inhaled Salbutamol via spacer in surgery. His parents are divorced and both have parental responsibility. The mother brings him and consents to treatment; the father telephones later objecting to all medicines. What should you do?