Who Should Decide What's in a Child's Best Interest?

By Robert MacDougall
Impact Ethics
Originally posted December 8, 2014

Here is an excerpt:

One might argue that state intervention would not constitute an imposition of Western values on First Nations families and children. Instead, one might claim that state intervention merely prevents First Nations Canadians from imposing their values on their children, who are not yet old enough to decide for themselves whether to follow the Western medical paradigm or the traditional aboriginal one. But this assumes that the default position of the state should be to treat children in accordance with the Western paradigm until the child is old enough to decide for him or herself. Rather than assume the Western paradigm when making treatment decisions for First Nations children, it makes more sense to treat them according to the values of their own parents.

The entire article is here.

School Psychologists and Ethical Practice: Information for Parents and Educators

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