Article Text
Abstract
When children are considered for participation in research, British and international guidelines suggest that they should provide assent in addition to their parents' consent. However, examination of these guidelines shows there is confusion regarding the concept of assent. Furthermore, the need for assent may cause problems. The guidelines should be revised: the parents of incompetent children should consent for them and competent children should consent on their own behalf.
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Footnotes
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Funding PB is funded by the Wellcome Trust (Grant 087470).
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Competing interests None.
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Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.