Children’s consent and the zone of parental discretion

This paper briefly reviews highlights from decades of debates in medicine, law, bioethics, psychology and social research about children’s and parents’ views and consent to medical treatment and research. There appears to have been a rise and later a fall in respect for children’s views, illustrated among many examples by a recent book on the zone of parental discretion, which is reviewed. A return to greater respect for children’s views and consent is advocated. Priscilla Alderson is Professor Emerita of Childhood Studies at University College London. Recent books include The Politics of Childhoods Real and Imagined: Practical Application of Critical Realism and Childhood Studies, Volume 2 (2016 Routledge), Childhoods Real and Imagined: An Introduction to Critical Realism and Childhood Studies, Volume 1 (2013 Routledge), The Ethics of Research with Children and Young People: A Practical Handbook with Virginia Morrow (2011 Sage, revised third edition) and Young Children’s Rights: Exploring beliefs, principles and practice (2008 Jessica Kingsley/Save the Children, revised second edition).More details on https://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/browse/profile?upi=DPALD60