Consenting and Assenting Children & Families in Research
Elizabeth Gunn, Senior Research Advisor, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University
With Expert Panel & Contributions from:
Karen Beattie (Patient & Family Engagement in Research, Pediatric Rheumatology)
Redjana Carciumaru (Pediatric Emergency Medicine)
Paige Cheveldayoff (Centre for Metabolism, Obesity & Diabetes Research)
Heather Johnson (Neonatal Intensive Care)
Sherrie Orr (Pediatric Critical Care Medicine)
Sarah Wellman-Earl (CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research)
Shannon Pare (University of Guelph)
And others
Obtaining consent and assent for pediatric research requires careful consideration of ethical principles, developmental understanding, and family dynamics. This session will explore best practices for engaging children and their caregivers in the consent process across various research settings, including outpatient, inpatient, and neonatal intensive care units (NICU). We will also discuss the use of deferred consent in critical care research and strategies for ensuring families feel informed and supported in their decision-making. A panel of experts, including parent partners, will share real-world experiences and strategies to make the consent and assent process transparent, inclusive, and family-centered.
macpedsrrt.ca 