IN REGARD TO CHILDREN'S RIGHTS TO HEALTH IT IS PROPOSED THAT PARENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE CASE OF PARENTS OBJECTING TO BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS FOR THEIR CHILD IS USED AS AN ILLUSTRATION. LAWS THAT REGULATE THE DECISIONS A PARENT CAN MAKE ARE BEGINNING TO APPEAR, AND MORE LEGAL ACTION IS URGED. CRITERIA ARE NEEDED TO IDENTIFY THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE IN NEED OF HELP, AND PROFESSIONALS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNICATE THEIR FINDINGS EFFECTIVELY TO THE PUBLIC. THE TERM FAILURE TO THRIVE USUALLY IS ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE MALNUTRITION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DERANGEMENT. THE TERM, HOWEVER, IS A CATCHALL DIAGNOSIS AND NEEDS CLARIFICATION. THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MOTHER, BABY, AND FATHER AS THEY RELATE TO THE INFANT'S FAILURE TO THRIVE ESPECIALLY NEED EXAMINATION. A METHOD FOR DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT PERMITS A FAVORABLE MOTHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP IS ADVOCATED. SUCH A METHOD INVOLVES TELLING THE PARENTS THAT A CAREFUL STUDY OF THE BABY'S PHYSIOLOGY IS IMPERATIVE. PARENTS ARE INCLUDED IN ALL STAGES OF SUBSEQUENT CARE. ROLE REVERSAL, WHERE THE PARENT TURNS TO THE CHILD FOR NURTURING AND PROTECTION II IS A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE NEGLECTED/BATTERED CHILD SYNDROME. ROLE REVERSAL ALSO PREDICTS THE CONTINUANCE AND RECURRENCE OF THE BATTERED OR NEGLECTED CHILD SYNDROME. ROLE REVERSAL IS INDICATIVE OF THE PARENT'S INABILITY TO FILL THE PARENTAL ROLE. RESEARCH IS NECESSARY TO HELP DISTINGUISH THOSE CHILDREN WHO MUST BE SEPARATED FROM THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED THROUGHOUT THE TEXT. (MLC)