INFORMED CONSENT IN PEDIATRIC PRACTICE AND IN RESEARCH CONCERNING THE CHILD

The study starts from the premise of ethical particularities specific to medical care and scientific research in pediatrics. Young children, teenagers and minors do not have the capacity of independent decision; therefore the decision by substitution given by parents or legal representatives is required. The minor child's consent to the medical treatment and pediatric scientific research expresses itself under the form of assent, which is valid starting with the age of 14. A special situation is that of the "emancipated" adolescents who can make medical decisions independently of parents, especially in cases regarding the sexual transmitted diseases, alcohol-related problems, drugs and AIDS problems. Children's participation to the scientific research is valid only in clinical trials of phase II, III and IV. All these pecularities and precautions are necessary to protect the rights of pediatric patients, legally immature and liable to possible abuses. That is why the national and international legislation regarding the young patients' protection has a great practical importance and has to be complied with in a professional and empathic way by all those who work in the pediatric medical care.