Ethical Considerations for Research Involving Children

New report released from The National Academies:

Ethical Considerations for Research on Housing-Related Health Hazards Involving Children: Public Briefing

In April the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cancelled a study of how young children are exposed to indoor pesticides and other household chemicals after critics argued that child participants were intentionally placed at risk and parents were not fully informed of the study's potential dangers. A recent study of lead-based paint abatement by the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore also drew sharp criticism for its work with child participants [see Grimes v. Kennedy Krieger Institute, Inc., 366 Md. 29 (2001) (PDF)]. Ethical Considerations for Research on Housing-Related Health Hazards Involving Children, a new report from the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, outlines how to conduct such research in a way that ultimately improves child health, ensures that child participants do not face inappropriate risks, and fully informs their parents. The report will be released at a public briefing.

You can link to the webcast of the public briefing (Sept. 19, 2005, 2:00 p.m to 3:30 p.m. EST) here.