Are There Limits on Parental Decision-Making Over Children's Treatment?

In medical practice, there are situations where medical opinion differs from the patient's perception of their own benefit. This situation becomes more complex when the parents of a minor child are who deny their children life-saving treatment. It is necessary to determine how far professionals will fight over the management of a child's care if parents refuse treatment. To help in the development of criteria, three recently publicized cases are reviewed, including an analysis of the possible limits of parents to decide the treatment of their children. It is concluded that while it is vital to understand and respect the parents' beliefs, the fundamental duty is to the patient and their right to live. Therefore, it is justified to access the Courts when persuasion fails.