Consent in children

Consent should be obtained for any intervention and must be fully informed and freely given. Whether children can give consent themselves or have to rely on others to consent for them depends on a combination of age and degree of competence. Healthcare staff and parents all have a responsibility to act in a child’s best interests. The same ethical principles apply to children being involved as research subjects, or as live organ or tissue donors; however, these special situations have additional safeguards.