Informed Consent of Clinical Research Involving in Children / 中国医学伦理学

ABSTRACT

Objective:To summarize the existing problems and countermeasures of informed consent when children,one of the vulnerable groups in China,participate in clinical research,and further to provide reference for ethical review.Methods:We reviewed and comprehensively analyzed the domestic literatures that involved children and required informed consent.Results:Aiming at the unique physiological and psychological cognitive characteristics of children,this paper expounded the rationality of children's participation in clinical research and the timing of choice.It emphasized the existing problems in the process of informed consent such as inadequate informing,verbal acknowledgement,too long or too short time informed by the doctor-in-charge,as well as overspecialization of informed consent,inductive language,not describing potential risks and other incomplete information disclosure.According to these problems,the paper put forward some countermeasures.Conclusions:Informed consent of children's participation in clinical research should follow the general principles,consider children's characteristics,respect their willingness,and avoid unnecessary harm.