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As others have said, using the example of a boy with an inoperable tumor makes reading this a bit uncomfortable, but there was a similar case a few years back that had a happy ending. It related in this case to a girl of about 12yo who had a heart defect. She had already had several surgeries and was due for more. She wouldn't go. At one point, social services were threatening to take the parents to court for 'denying' their daughter the surgery. However, when social services visited the family, it became clear to them that the parents had done all they could to persuade their daughter to have the surgery and that it was HER decision not to proceed. In the end social services interviewed the girl and decided that she was old enough and mature enough to make this decision for herself, despite the possible life or death consequences. From memory, the girl eventually had successful surgery but a couple of years later than was originally planned. If someone of 12yo is deemed mature enough to make decisions re life and death matters, why can they not make choices about sex. And I accept that some kids are NOT mature enough, but why should those who are be denied their chance to make their own decisions. Muppet |