ABSTRACT
The Mental Capacity Act should be a stimulus to allowing young people as much independence as possible. They are given various protections that help to balance any loss of protection that they may seem to have lost from their parents and in strict legal terms, never had. These protections aim to ensure the young person is viewed objectively and by all those who are involved in their care. What responsibility do people have as professionals to help families help young people to grow up and become independent? In his passage, Greg obviously had the inner drive to achieve in general and to achieve independence. There are strong clues in his writing that this came from his parents, although Greg might argue it came from him! When faced with a child who has a life-limiting illness it is important that, as for any child, no restrictions are blindly applied.
