Vaccine programmes for young people during the
covid-19 pandemic have highlighted common legal
and ethical dilemmas that can arise when consenting
children aged under 18 for medical treatment or
intervention.1 -3 These can be especially challenging
when a parent or guardian’s views differ from those
of the child.
This article summarises the issues around consenting
children under 18 for treatment using vaccination as
an exemplar. Most of the article is based on guidance
and law in the UK; however, the principles behind
the laws described may be applicable in other
settings. We recommend that health professionals
outside the UK also check their local laws regarding
consent for children’s treatments and vaccinations.