title: Who should determine what is best for children in state custody who object to psychotropic medication?
abstract: This article explores a child's right to refuse medical treatment, in contrast to giving the state or the parents this choice. The article specifically explores a child's right to refuse psychotropic drugs, which are more limiting of personal liberty than physical restraints and can have long-lasting side effects. With a focus on children's competence and the significant side effects of psychotropic drugs, the author concludes that caseworkers do not know the best interests of children in state custody and thus adolescents should be allowed to make their own decisions about psychotropic medications.
authors.affiliation: Barry University in Orlando, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Talmadge
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002655:Child Custody; D006801:Humans; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D035521:Supreme Court Decisions; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs