A more thorough explanation:

The family-autonomy doctrine is a legal principle that emphasizes the importance of a family's right to make decisions about their own lives without interference from the government or other outside parties. This doctrine is closely related to the parental-autonomy doctrine, which specifically focuses on the rights of parents to make decisions about their children's upbringing.

For example, if a family decides to homeschool their children instead of sending them to public school, the family-autonomy doctrine would protect their right to make that choice without interference from the government. Similarly, if a family decides to refuse medical treatment for a family member based on their religious beliefs, the family-autonomy doctrine would protect their right to make that decision.

The family-autonomy doctrine is based on the idea that families are the fundamental building blocks of society and that they should be allowed to make decisions that reflect their own values and beliefs. However, this doctrine is not absolute and may be limited in cases where the government has a compelling interest in intervening to protect the welfare of a child or other vulnerable family member.