Disabled young people’s participation in end-of-life decisions

The human rights of children with disabilities: How can medical professionals better fulfil rather than breach them?

“…Their parents will also most likely have fewer resources in terms of money, 16 time, and their own health, 17 to enforce their children's rights than parents of children without disabilities and may be unwilling to challenge a service provider upon whom their child depends for their health and survival. 3 There are other mechanisms by which UNCRC rights in theory are fulfilled. State Parties periodically report to the Committee on how they are meeting their UNCRC duties.…”

“…Neurologists expressed concern that their medical colleagues often underestimated the cognitive and communication abilities of children with neurodisabilities. 3 General Comment 12 (Table 2) explains how best to ensure a child's right to be heard. 27 Like General Comment 14, it is detailed and wide-ranging.…”

“…2 Medical professionals can contribute to rather than help avoid these rights abuses. 3 Indeed, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (hereafter referred to as the Committee), a committee of internationally recognized independent experts, repeatedly raise the need for professionals to receive systematic training in children's rights. Australia 4 and Mexico 5 are among the nations to receive this recommendation in the Committee's most recent periodic reports, called Concluding Observations, on how and if the relevant nation is meeting its United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 6 obligations.…”