title: Assent for children's participation in research is incoherent and wrong.
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.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Professional Ethics, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK. pbb@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baines
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics*; D016743:Mental Competency; D033282:Parental Consent / Q000941:ethics; D018579:Patient Selection / Q000941:ethics*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D009626:Terminology as Topic