Guidance on clinical research involving infants, children and young people: an update for researchers and research ethics committees

of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), first published guidance in relation to research involving children in 1980. 1 Prior to this time, little clinical research involved children. The 1980 guidance initiated a sea change, stating 'research involving children is important', 'should be supported and encouraged' and 'research which involves a child and is of no benefit to that child (non-therapeutic research) is not necessarily either unethical or illegal'. Updated guidance was issued by the RCPCH in 2000. 2 Both documents have been cited extensively.