Shaping Parental Authority Over Children's Bodies

INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 956 I. SCULPTING, SHAPING, AND SIZING CHILDREN: FOCUS CASES.............................. 959 A. WESTERNIZING ASIAN EYES..................................................................... 960 B. HORMONES FOR STATURE ........................................................................ 961 C. LIPOSUCTION ON A TWELVE YEAR OLD.................................................... 963 D. GROWTH STUNTING ................................................................................. 964 II. THE LAW, MEDICINE, PARENTAL RIGHTS, AND CHILDREN’S BODIES ................. 966 A. BACKGROUND LAW ................................................................................. 966 B. APPLICATION IN SHAPING CASES .............................................................. 969 C. ROOM FOR REGULATION .......................................................................... 971 III. WHAT IS REALLY WRONG WITH MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SHAPING OF CHILDREN? ............................................................................................................ 973 A. THE NONSUBORDINATION PRINCIPLE AS A LIMIT ON INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 974 B. CHILDREN AS PERSONS, PARENTAL RIGHTS ............................................. 977 C. MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SHAPING OF CHILDREN IS DIFFERENT ............... 981 IV. CONCERNING THE CHILD: ANOTHER VIEW OF PARENTHOOD ........................... 985 A. ALTERNATIVE MODELS ............................................................................ 987 B. COMMON PRINCIPLES ............................................................................... 991 V. RECONSTRUCTING THE ROLE OF THE PARENT IN MEDICAL DECISION MAKING FOR CHILDREN .............................................................................................................. 991 A. POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES GENERALLY ..................... 994 B. POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS CONCERNING CHILDREN’S HEALTH ........................................................................................................ 996 VI. SHAPING RECONSTRUCTED .............................................................................. 999 VII. PRACTICAL MATTERS, LIMITATIONS, AND FINAL THOUGHTS ........................ 1001