Children and clinical research: ethical issues
Report
Published 14/05/2015
- To consider whether the current systems for regulating clinical research strike the right balance with respect to:
- promoting understanding of childhood conditions and the availability of evidence-based treatments for children;
- the role children themselves should play in research decisions; and
- the proper protection of child participants.
- To consider, as may be necessary:
- how it may be ensured that appropriate priority is given to research that is most likely to benefit children;
- how the ethical acceptability of research projects should be determined, and the role of the various parties involved, including parents, in protecting children’s welfare;
- the relevance of a child’s ‘best interests’ or capacity to ‘benefit’ in the context of consent to research, as opposed to treatment;
- the importance of the international context;
- any other aspects of the direct or indirect regulation of clinical research in children that may be relevant.
- To draft a report and make recommendations as appropriate.