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Should children be used as research subjects?

Nursing Forum
|July 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Children can participate in research if their assent and dissent are protected. This ethical approach ensures children's rights are respected in scientific studies.

Area of Science:

  • Bioethics
  • Pediatric Research
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Ethical considerations in human subjects research are paramount.
  • Protecting vulnerable populations, such as children, requires specific ethical frameworks.
  • The historical debate surrounding child participation in research necessitates clear guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the ethical justification for including children in research.
  • To present a framework for safeguarding children's rights during research participation.
  • To address the balance between scientific advancement and child welfare.

Main Methods:

  • Ethical analysis of existing research protocols involving minors.
  • Review of legal and ethical guidelines pertaining to pediatric research.
  • Philosophical examination of assent and dissent in the context of child participants.

Main Results:

  • The ethical use of children in research is achievable.
  • Safeguarding mechanisms for child assent and dissent are crucial for justification.
  • A balanced approach respects both research integrity and children's autonomy.

Conclusions:

  • Children can ethically participate in research when their assent and dissent are rigorously protected.
  • Ethical research involving children requires a commitment to their well-being and rights.
  • This approach supports valuable scientific inquiry while upholding the highest ethical standards for pediatric subjects.

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