In a modern and culturally diverse country like the U.A.E., different cultural and ethnic preferences and practices must be considered when treating adolescent patients. In Middle Eastern societies, adolescence is an age group that is not recognised as a separate entity, especially in the medical field. While the medical specialties of family medicine or internal medicine usually partner to treat this age group, physicians need to be made aware of the current U.A.E. medical regulations on how to handle ethical dilemmas of treating the adolescent population.
Dr. Asma Al Nuaimi, Consultant Paediatric Pulmonologist, Head of Paediatric Department, Zayed Military Hospital, spoke today about 'Ethics in Adolescent Medicine' during the Paediatric Conference at the Arab Health Recruitment and Training Fair. The event, which is the largest healthcare recruitment and training fair in the region, concludes tomorrow at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi.
According to Dr. Al Nuaimi, "The U.A.E., and in particular the Health Authority Abu Dhabi, is adapting to increase the paediatric age gradually on an annual basis. Currently in the U.A.E., adolescence ends at the age of 15. However, legally, the consenting age is still 18. Traditionally, parents used to make medical decisions on behalf of their children. The current ethical challenge is whether to treat those adolescents as adults and seek their consent when it comes to medical treatment or to leave the decision to their parents." Global statistics recognise adolescence as an independent entity, and these young children are more likely to have unmet health needs and delayed medical care. It has been acknowledged that this group of children can be particularly vulnerable and experience different levels of emotional, psychosocial and physical maturity that makes them prone to certain harmful behaviour and diseases such as drug use and abuse, eating disorders and sexually transmitted diseases.
"Most of the physicians in the U.A.E. have not been trained in handling this special group. This specialty is a relatively new one to the medical field as a whole, and there is a need to focus on certain aspects of ethical needs such as consents, capacity, capability, and how to preserve confidentiality of physician-patient relationship in a safe and legal manner," highlighted Dr. Al Nuaimi.