THE INFORMED CONSENT IN PEDIATRICS – A CHILD’S RIGHT

Authors

  • Dana Elena MINDRU “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania
  • Mioara Calipsoana MATEI “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania
  • Aurica RUGINA “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania
  • Irina Mihaela CIOMAGA “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania
  • N. NISTOR “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania
  • Laura FLORESCU “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania

Abstract

THE INFORMED CONSENT IN PEDIATRICS-A CHILD’S RIGHT (Abstract): Consent signifies the patient’s knowingly authorization of a medical intervention. Revealing the truth about the patient’s condition refers to the provision of information by the physician regarding the diagnosis and the treatment, as well as their understanding by the patient. His or her decision-making capacity refers to the ability of understanding the data that have been provided. The independent decision refers to the patient’s right to make a free decision regarding his or her treatment, without constraint or manipulation. Informed consent is one of the most sensitive issues of the physician-patient, researcher-subject relationship. Minors do not have the capacity of independent decision; therefore, the decision by substitution given by parents or legal representatives is required. The minor child’s consent to the medical treatment and pediatric scientific research expresses itself under the form of assent, which is valid starting with the age of 14. Doctors should ask for parental consent before medical interventions (except in cases of emergency, when parents cannot be contacted). From a practical standpoint, when it comes to obtaining a valid consent, it is useful to make a distinction between the problem-solving process and the decision-making process. The permission given by parents includes all standard elements of informed consent. In each case, the doctor has to make sure that he or she has a valid consent because, in legal terms, treating a patient without his or her consent is a crime, while treatment based on inadequate consent constitutes negligence.

Author Biographies

  • Dana Elena MINDRU, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Mother and Child Medicine

  • Mioara Calipsoana MATEI, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Preventive Medicine and Interdisciplinarity
    Clinical Epidemiology Research and Training Center, Iasi

  • Aurica RUGINA, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Mother and Child Medicine

  • Irina Mihaela CIOMAGA, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Mother and Child Medicine

  • N. NISTOR, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Mother and Child Medicine

  • Laura FLORESCU, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Mother and Child Medicine

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Additional Files

Published

2019-03-29

Issue

Vol. 123 No. 1 (2019): The Medical-Surgical Journal

Section

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE - LABORATORY

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