title: Parents as decision-makers--do the attitudes of Norwegian doctors conform to law?
abstract: This article studies whether the attitudes of Norwegian doctors regarding surrogate decision power in end-of-life care conform to legal rules, particularly as they apply to the protection of children. The article is based on a hypothetical scenario concerning a critically ill child, believed to be dying, presented to 406 doctors. The study indicates that doctors may permit parental/surrogate decision-making to a greater extent than justified by law, sometimes in contravention of the child's best interests, which should be a fundamental guideline in all decisions that concern children. This article suggests a need to improve knowledge of doctors concerning parents'/surrogates' right to participate in life-or-death decisions. We conclude that Norway needs a precedent decision from the Supreme Court that confirms the right of judicial review of end-of-life decisions, and which applies the principle of the child's best interests as a fundamental guideline in the final decision.
authors: Centre for Medical Ethics, Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. marbahus@online.no
authors: Marianne K
authors: MK
authors: Bahus
authors: Reidun
authors: R
authors: Føerde
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D016638:Critical Illness; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care; D009664:Norway; D010290:Parents; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires