PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Amanda Sibley
AU  - Mark Sheehan
AU  - Andrew J Pollard
TI  - Assent is not consent
AID  - 10.1136/medethics-2011-100317
DP  - 2012 Jan 01
TA  - Journal of Medical Ethics
PG  - 3--3
VI  - 38
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/38/1/3.short
4100  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/38/1/3.full
SO  - J Med Ethics2012 Jan 01; 38
AB  - A recent article from Archives of Disease in Childhood outlined problems with the act of gaining child assent for research participation. However the arguments used in the article are incomplete or misguided. Rather than being harmful, assent should be seen as an ethically-appropriate way in which we can engage with the child about his participation in research. While additional clarification of the concept of assent is needed, the child's family context can provide us with a valuable guide to the way we involve him in the decision-making process.