| Abstract: | This paper explores the interface between psychology and the law as it relates to the informed consent doctrine and adolescents' legal competency to make informed decisions regarding birth control and pregnancy terminations. The complicated developmental, clinical, ethical, and legal issues have stimulated the courts to express their need for empirical evidence on the issue. To date, no such investigation has been reported in the literature. A research strategy is proposed which could address the courts' need for substantive data upon which to base legal decisions regarding adolescents' competency to reach reproductive decisions. |
