title: Decisional Capacity among Minors with HIV: A Model for Balancing Autonomy Rights with the Need for Protection.
abstract: The purpose of this paper is threefold: (1) to describe the relevant ethical and legal issues associated with decisional capacity among minors and to discuss the importance of these concepts for children and adolescents living with HIV; (2) to provide a framework for assessing the decisional capacity of children and adolescents with HIV; and (3) to present a model for thinking about how to use this assessment data to guide action along the protection-autonomy continuum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Florida, 140 7 Avenue South, Davis Hall 258, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. Office: 727-873-4585; chennevi@mail.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chenneville
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Center for Pain Research, University of Florida, P.O. Box 103628, Gainesville, Florida 32610-3628. Office: 352-273-5981; ksibille@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sibille
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Fielding Graduate University, 5342 Ballona Lane, Culver City, California 90230. Office: 310-308-3246; Dbestroff@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bendell-Estroff
keywords: AIDS; HIV; adolescents; assent; autonomy; children; competence; consent; decisional capacity; model; pediatric; protection