note: a child can't give an informed consent to waive the right
I don't think the consent argument holds water. We force children to do things without their consent all the time. We make kids go to school. Corporal punishment of children is legal in most states, both by parents and teachers. Children usually don't consent to such things, but we do it them anyway.
Sorry for nitpicking one thing out of your comment, but the "children can't consent" argument really gets to me.
There are certain activities that, by various state and local laws, require consent. Entering into a contract or getting married, for instance. A minor legally cannot consent to these things.
That doesn't extend to everything a child may do or be forced to do.
I don't think the consent argument holds water. We force children to do things without their consent all the time. We make kids go to school. Corporal punishment of children is legal in most states, both by parents and teachers. Children usually don't consent to such things, but we do it them anyway.
Sorry for nitpicking one thing out of your comment, but the "children can't consent" argument really gets to me.