THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING

A Child's Question

Author(s): Caroline Whitbeck, Ph.D.

A boy of about eight with cellulitis is enrolled in a study of antibiotics to determine steady-state levels in children. The study has no clear therapeutic benefit for patients, but presents only minimal risk. The parents have given consent. When you go to put in the required IV, the child objects to the needle and then asks "Do I really need this to make me better?

Discussion Questions

• What do you say?
• What, if anything, do you say if you find that the parents have led the child to believe that this test is part of his treatment?

• Return to Research Ethics Module Supporting Pages

• Reading Questions for Ethics Guidelines to Publication of Chemical Research

• Discussion questions based on the ACS Guidelines and 'On Being a Scientist.'

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