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Ethical Concerns When Minors Act as Standardized Patients
Erwin Jiayuan Khoo1, Robert D Schremmer2, Douglas S Diekema3
1International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Pediatrics
|February 9, 2017
Summary
Minors acting as standardized patients (SPs) in medical education lack specific ethical guidelines, risking exploitation. This article examines the need for rules, informed consent, and protection against potential harm for child SPs.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Bioethics
- Child Welfare
Background:
- Minors are increasingly utilized as standardized patients (SPs) in medical education.
- Existing regulations for medical research and child labor laws do not adequately cover minors' roles in medical education.
- The absence of specific guidelines raises concerns about potential exploitation and harm to child SPs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the ethical considerations surrounding the use of minors as SPs in medical education.
- To determine if specific rules, informed consent/assent, and protective measures are necessary for child SPs.
- To analyze a controversial case involving a minor SP to highlight ethical dilemmas.
Main Methods:
- Ethical analysis of a presented controversial case study.
- Expert consultation on the ethical issues identified.
- Review of existing regulations in medical research and child labor laws.
Main Results:
- The current lack of specific guidelines for minors as SPs creates a regulatory gap.
- Ethical questions arise regarding informed consent/assent and potential psychological or emotional harm.
- Expert opinions highlight the need for a framework to protect child SPs.
Conclusions:
- There is a pressing need to establish clear ethical guidelines and regulations for minors serving as SPs.
- Implementing informed consent or assent procedures is crucial for protecting child participants.
- Safeguards must be developed to prevent exploitation and ensure the well-being of minors in medical education settings.