2011 Theses Bachelor's

Children in Research: Should They Be a Part of the Biomedical Research World?

Thomas, Emily

Our children are our future; if this is so, why should they be excluded from important
scientific studies which could be aided by their participation? The role of children in society has
spanned the full spectrum, ranging from helpless individuals to “little adults,” but what exactly
should their role in research participation be? In the past, they have been taken advantage of,
used in research that exposed them to unnecessary risks. Prior to 1966, children were frequently
research subjects because they were convenient and cheap in the sense that they were non-valued
or viewed as expendable commodities (Ross, 2006). The research of the time unfortunately
reflected this devalued vision of children.