How issues of autonomy and consent differ between children and adults: Kids are not just little people

Decision making in dermatology practice with adult patients is in most cases a relatively straightforward process, involving a back-and-forth exchange of information, ideas and opinions between the physician and patient. This process is more complex in the field of pediatric dermatology. It involves the triad of the patient, parent or guardian, and physician. It utilizes a model, common to many fields in pediatrics, whereby the physician seeks to obtain informed permission from the parent with the assent of the child, all the while endeavoring to act in the best interests of the child. This model can be challenged in many ways; from parents seeking interventions, which are not in the best interests of the child, to a child refusing to assent to a procedure that is deemed necessary by the parent and physician. We review the theory, terminology, and guidelines relevant to the ethics of decision making when working with children compared with adults. We explore approaches to a variety of ethically challenging situations that may be encountered by the dermatologist, through their work with pediatric patients.