Who has the final say when a child is a patient?
News article When a child needs medical care, difficult considerations sometimes arise between medical expertise, parental responsibility, and the child’s right to be heard. Since the Convention on the Rights of the Child gained stronger legal status in Sweden, the issue of children’s participation in healthcare has become increasingly central for healthcare services, social services, and the legal system. New research shows that children’s voices can both be strengthened and silenced in healthcare decision-making processes, often depending on the adults around them.
12 February 2026
