"This article was first published in the Summer 2023 issue of Critical Connections.

Children are deemed at risk of exploitation due to their varied stages of development depending on their age and underlying condition. Their at-risk status precludes them from meeting criteria for informed and valid consent. Their interests are therefore guarded by surrogates, usually parents, who must judge risks and benefits of study enrollment. This article discusses the ethics of excluding patients based on the language of consent forms.

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