Gillick competence

noun

The capacity of a child to consent to medical treatment without parental permission or knowledge.

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Meanings

nounGillick competence (uncountable)

alternative Gillick competency

  1. UKuncountablelawThe capacity of a child to consent to medical treatment without parental permission or knowledge.

Origin

Based on the decision in 1985 of the House of Lords in Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority.

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Cite this entry
APA

Gillick competence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gillick%20competence

MLA

“Gillick competence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gillick%20competence. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Gillick competence,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gillick%20competence.

Source: Gillick competence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.