Balancing different rights

Determining the best interests of the child also requires you to think about the different rights children have and how they are taken into account with each other. For example, a child requires a stable family environment, but if the child is experiencing harm or neglect in the family home, it may not be in their best interests to stay with their own family. The disruption to the child's life may be necessary in order to protect them. Situations can arise where rights appear to conflict. For example, a competent teenager may exercise his right to refuse treatment, whereas medical opinion considers that the treatment is vital for his long-term health and well-being.

The child’s immediate and long-term interests