TY - JOUR T1 - Assent for children's participation in research is incoherent and wrong JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood JO - Arch Dis Child SP - 960 LP - 962 DO - 10.1136/adc.2011.211342 VL - 96 IS - 10 AU - Paul Baines Y1 - 2011/10/01 UR - http://adc.bmj.com/content/96/10/960.abstract N2 - 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. ER -