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A Legal Framework for Caring pp 95–113Cite as

The child — before and after birth

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Abstract

This chapter concentrates on the legal framework surrounding children, relevant ethical issues also being highlighted where necessary. Generally speaking, the term ‘child’ is used to describe any living being from the time of confinement and birth to below the compulsory school leaving age, that is 16 years or less. The term ‘young person’ is generally used for those between 16 and the age of legal majority at 18. However, in practice, children develop mentally and physically at wildly different rates, and children between 10 and 14 years of age may be considered as older children, those aged over 14 being viewed as young adults. This brings a peculiar dilemma to the legal approach to children — when is a child not a child?

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Authors
  1. Lucy Fletcher
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  2. Paul Buka
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Copyright information

© 1999 Lucy Fletcher and Paul Buka

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Cite this chapter

Fletcher, L., Buka, P. (1999). The child — before and after birth. In: A Legal Framework for Caring. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-14755-7_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-14755-7_6

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-333-72778-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-14755-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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