Final answer:
A 16-year-old with cancer could potentially refuse chemotherapy if considered an emancipated or mature minor, or through judicial bypass. State laws vary significantly, and cases like these are evaluated individually considering numerous ethical and legal factors, including the minor's maturity and understanding of the treatment's consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under specific circumstances, a minor like 16-year-old Jane Doe with cancer might be allowed to refuse continued chemotherapy treatments. States have differing policies on the extent to which minors can make medical decisions. For example, in the context of medical marijuana, nearly half the states allow its use, often at odds with federal policy, indicating a state's flexibility in setting its policy. Laws related to patient autonomy and the rights of minors are complex and depend on the jurisdiction.
Minors typically require parental consent for significant medical treatments, but there are situations, such as emancipated minors, judicial bypass, or if the minor is considered to have sufficient maturity to make an informed decision, where they may be allowed to consent or refuse treatment. Factors include the nature and severity of the illness, the potential benefits and risks of the treatment, and whether refusing treatment could result in severe harm or death. Additionally, some states have mature minor doctrine allowing a physician to determine if a minor has the maturity to consent or refuse treatment.
In instances where ethical considerations require respecting a minor's wish for treatment refusal, a health care proxy or a living will may also be involved, though these are more typically used when a person is no longer able to express their wishes.