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Gillick competence
Gillick competence is the test for whether a child under 16 can consent to their own medical treatment.
Summary
- It comes from a 1985 House of Lords case, Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority.
- A child is Gillick competent if they have enough understanding and intelligence to fully understand what is proposed.
- It is judged decision by decision. A child might be able to consent to a vaccination and not to major surgery.
- The Fraser guidelines are narrower. They come from the same case and deal with giving contraceptive advice to under 16s.
- Young people aged 16 and 17 are presumed able to consent to their own treatment.
Interview questions
- A 14 year old asks for contraception and does not want her parents told. What do you do?
- What is the difference between Gillick competence and the Fraser guidelines?
- Can a competent child refuse treatment that would save their life?
Practise answering these with a mentor
Our interview preparation has you answer questions like these out loud, with feedback on each answer.
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More NHS hot topics, medical ethics case studies and medical school interview questions are in AlphaMED Resources, which we add to and update through the application cycle.