Summary of six principles for guiding research with children from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health³

Value of research with children—If conducted in an ethical manner, medical research with children is important in promoting child health and wellbeing

Children’s interests—Children are a unique research group who are particularly vulnerable, easily bewildered and frightened, and unable to express their needs or defend their interests

Must the research involve children?—Research with children should be undertaken only when work with adults is clearly not feasible

Potential benefits, harm, and cost—Full evaluation is essential

Research ethics committees—Relevant ethics committees must approve all medical research…. Review is also needed by children and their parents

Consent and assent—When children have sufficient understanding and intelligence to understand what is proposed, it is they and not their parents whose consent is required by law