Professor Robin Gill, Emeritus professor of Applied Theology, in the Department of Religious Studies has contributed to a new report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics on the ethical issues of involving children and young people in clinical research.
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is an independent body that examines and reports on ethical issues in biology and medicine. It was established by the Trustees of the Nuffield Foundation in 1991, and since 1994 it has been funded jointly by the Foundation, the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council.
Clinical research involving children is essential to increase our understanding of childhood conditions and improve healthcare for children. Yet professionals and parents often feel uneasy about asking children to take part in research, for example because of potential risks or burdens.
The report, by a working group set up in 2013, outlines the main ethical challenges in conducting research with children and gives key recommendations to improve the involvement of young people, with the aim of broadening the evidence base for care in this age group.
The report was published on 14 May, a magazine version and a short animation are also available. For further information and to view the report please see: www.nuffieldbioethics.org/project/children-research/