Raise the age when children take control of their own health care and treatments

65
signatures
openDepartment of Health and Social Careby Sara HayesOpened 10 April 2026

Background

Currently, people aged 16 or over are entitled to consent to their own treatment and can make decisions on treatments without parental involvement. This can only be overruled in exceptional circumstances. I would like this age raised to 18 or at least give parent and children joint control.

Additional details

Like adults, young people (aged 16/17) are presumed to have sufficient capacity to decide on their own medical treatment, unless there's significant evidence to suggest otherwise. However, I believe that this could be too much pressure on the young person given the pressures that are already on them, including GCSEs & leaving school. Young people that have additional medical issues may find it extremely difficult to take over control of prescriptions and appointments on top of these pressures

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.

Source: UK Government & Parliament Petitions service. Petition ID: 764011.