Question

.-Give an example of a situation in which a person is assenting but not consenting to an experience (medical or otherwise). Give an argument that explains and justifies your answer.

Answer 1

Betsy is a 10-year-old leukemia patient who is receiving treatment for her condition at Cancer Center. Tomorrow she will be undergoing an invasive procedure for the same, which requires the patient's assent. Assent is required instead of consent as the patient is only 10 years old, i.e., less than the legal age for informed consent, which is usually 18 years. The informed consent, in this case, will be given by the parents after Betsy's assent. The patient's assent is required and is justifiable as this is an important procedure in a life or death situation, which could result in a positive outcome as expected or an unexpected negative life-threatening outcome. Being a patient under 18 years, informed consent is not required from the patient as it is legally invalid.