Publication
Title
Children and biobanks : a review of the ethical and legal discussion.
Author
Abstract
The use of tissue samples from children is vital to genetic research. Collections of such tissue, in so-called biobanks, can take the form of large-scale prospective cohort studies or disease-specific studies using tissue of children with that specific disease. Collections of samples gathered in a diagnostics context, such as blood spot cards, can also be used for genetic research. Research on stored tissue samples from children poses ethical questions that are different from those posed by the use of samples from adults. Also, the ethical questions raised by the participation of children in biobanks are not analogous to those raised by the participation of children in clinical trials. In this review we first give an overview of the international ethical guidelines and legal regulations concerning biobanking and minors. Next, we review the different themes that occur in the ethical literature on this subject. Specifically we focus on questions of risk and benefit, consent and assent and the return of individual results. We also discuss the concept of solidarity, which is a relatively new concept in the context of children and biomedical research. To conclude, we discuss the gaps and questions raised by the review.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Human genetics. - Berlin
Publication
Berlin : 2011
ISSN
0340-6717 [print]
1432-1203 [online]
DOI
10.1007/S00439-011-1031-8
Volume/pages
130 :3 (2011) , p. 403-413
ISI
000293908000009
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Publication type
Subject
Law 
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 12.10.2015
Last edited 20.02.2023
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