Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority

Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority (1985) is a key legal case in the UK that addressed minors' rights to make their own healthcare decisions. The court ruled that a minor under 16 can consent to medical treatment without parental approval if they have enough understanding and maturity—this is known as 'Gillick competence.' The case established that healthcare professionals can provide treatment to minors based on their maturity, balancing the minor’s autonomy with parental rights, particularly regarding contraception and reproductive health.