Whether children themselves may decide on treatment depends on their age:
- Children under 12 years of age may not decide for themselves about medical examination or treatment. This is up to their parents or caregivers. The doctor must tell young children at their own level what is going to happen to them.
- Children between 12 and 16 years of age decide together with their parents about an examination or treatment. Children at this age can usually assess their situation well. In practice, doctors attach great value to the opinion of the child.
- Young people of 16 years and older can decide about examinations or medical treatments, without consent of their parents.