Informed Consent, Parental Permission, and Assent in Pediatric Practice

A re-analysis of informed consent leads to the identification of important limitations and problems in its application to pediatric practice. Two additional concepts are needed: parental permission and patient assent. The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that in most cases, physicians have an ethical (and legal) obligation to obtain parental permission to undertaken recommended medical interventions. In many circumstances, physicians should also solicit a patient assent when developmentally appropriate. In cases involving emancipated or mature minors with adequate decision-making capacity, or when otherwise permitted by law, physicians should seek informed consent directly from patients.