Informed Assent and Informed Consent in the Child and Adolescent

Abstract

<p>In the psychiatric evaluation, parents are an essential source of information prior to treatment. However, there is a fine line between children’s and adolescents’ need for privacy, autonomy, and confidentiality and the parents’ right to protect and choose what is best for their child. Therefore, the clinician may be left to wonder who can provide informed consent. This article discusses informed consent in a clinical setting.</p> <h4>ABOUT THE AUTHORS</h4> <p>Anas Alkhatib, MD, is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Riverbend Center for Mental Health, Florence, Alabama. Judy Regan, MD, MBA, JD, is Associate Clinical Professor, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. John Jackson, MD, is Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Office of Mental Health Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville.</p> <p>Address correspondence to: Anas Alkhatib, MD, <a href="mailto:anasalkhatib@rcmh.org">anasalkhatib@rcmh.org</a>.</p> <p>Dr. Alkhatib, Dr. Regan, and Dr. Jackson have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.</p> <p>The authors thank William Bernet, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Chief of Forensic Division, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, for his help and feedback. They would also like to thank Gagan Dhaliwal, MD, Child and Adolescent, Adult and Forensic Psychiatrist, Huntsville, Alabama, for his support.</p> <h4>EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES</h4> <ol><li> Review the complexity of child and adolescent assent.</li> <li>Discuss components of consent and factors that may influence child and adolescent assent. </li> <li>Describe informed dissent and how it is different from adults’ refusal of treatment. </li> </ol>