TY - JOUR T1 - Dissent about assent in paediatric research JF - Journal of Medical Ethics JO - J Med Ethics SP - 2 LP - 2 DO - 10.1136/medethics-2011-100242 VL - 38 IS - 1 AU - Dominic Wilkinson Y1 - 2012/01/01 UR - http://jme.bmj.com/content/38/1/2.abstract N2 - In an article published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, paediatric intensivist Paul Baines criticises the conceptual and ethical basis for an assent requirement in paediatric research.1 Existing international research guidelines stipulate that children who cannot competently consent to research should ‘assent’ to their participation. However, Baines finds existing descriptions of assent both inadequate and contradictory. The guidelines also fail to provide a clear rationale … ER -