Inside the ethics committee : treating teenagers. 1/4.

Radio documentary presented by Joan Bakewell about ethical dilemmas, discussed with the help of a panel. The programme discusses the issues of teenagers with long term illness and what happens when adults and people in authority try to insist on what treatment they need. This is the story of May who is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of seven and needs to take several daily injections of insulin to keep her blood sugar levels regular. At first all goes well, but, following a severe episode of low sugar levels, her parents attempt to control May's school and social activities. As May gets older she needs to take more responsibility in managing her treatment. This includes checking the sugar levels in her blood before taking insulin injections and keeping a record in a diary. May enters false readings for high sugar levels which results in problems and she is referred to a psychologist. More control over treatment is given back to her parents which results in relationship problems. May's situation is now considered by the studio panel which consists of Dr Lee Hudson, paediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital, responsible for adolescent and young people’s health. Deborah Bowman, Professor of Ethics and Law at St George's, University of London, and Ellen-Louise Hall who is in her early 20s and has type 1 diabetes. Ellen-Louise Hall describes her experiences of having diabetes and the panel discuss the importance of the involvement of a child with a long term illness in their treatment. May's story is continued and as she gets older she experiences further problems at school with other children and fails to keep her blood sugar at safe levels. She eventually stops taking insulin which leads to her being admitted to intensive care. She gradually recovers but still continues to struggle with her treatment and again falsifies her sugar level readings by diluting her blood. The studio panel discusses the changes that occur during adolescence and how they affect May's ability to adapt to her situation. May's story is continued and by the age of fourteen she shows signs of kidney damage, is given a biopsy, and is diagnosed with serious kidney damage. The studio panel discuss the problems of teenagers resisting treatment including legal considerations. Ellen-Louise Hall considers from her own experience that it was a long process in coming to terms with managing her diabetes. Dr Lee Hudson advises that there are no quick fixes to resolving the problems discussed and Deborah Bowman considers peer groups where problems can be shared are important. May's story concludes with the shock of her kidney problems bringing about a change and realisation of the importance of carefully managing her illness.