Is it legal for a parent to force a minor against their will to take growth hormone to treat short stature.
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Is it legal for a parent to force a minor against their will to take growth hormone to treat short stature.
I am a 15 year old and for the last year, my parents have been forcing me against
my will to take growth hormone against my will. Although it has been prescribed
by a doctor, the only purpose of the medication is to make me taller. However,
there are many unknown long term side effects and other personal reasons that
cause me not to want to take this medication. Is it legal for my guardians to
force me to take this medication.
Asked on May 7, 2017 under Personal Injury, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
Yes, it is legal: parents or other legal guardians can make medical decisions for minors, even ones that may be controversial or expose them to side effects later on, so long as they are medically reasonably decisions--and if a doctor has prescribed the growth hormone, it presumably is medically reasonable (or else the doctor would not have prescribed it).
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