"How old is old enough to decide whether to live or die? Priscilla Alderson, professor of childhood studies at the Institute of Education, says her research had found that even very young children could give or withhold informed consent to medical treatment. Decisions about treatment, or even about whether to live or die, cannot be based on age, she argues.

"Our research has found that age isn't a helpful criterion - but experience is," she says. She has found that even at four years old, a child who has diabetes can understand the principle of insulin treatment - and it is vital they do understand or they risk interpreting the pain they as some kind of parental punishment."

interesting!

This is a really tough one but if the kid wants it this way she surely has that right?This society is already far too intrusive into peoples lives.I'm sure it's been well explained and an informed decision was made.I wish they'd just let my mother go in what time she had left.They used her for a guinea pig and tortured her to a rapid and very ugly death.It wasn't worth it no matter what they learned.