All resources

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges acknowledges the importance of Gillick competency, a well established legal principle which recognises the evolving maturity and individuality of children. Read the full statement attached.

Conflict can arise between health professionals and the parents of children not only where there is disagreement on the withdrawal or withholding of life sustaining treatment but also in more general routine care. In this paper for paediatricians and other health professionals, published in the Arch...

In 2018 we responded to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on transforming the response to domestic abuse. We support Government proposals to introduce a new statutory definition of domestic abuse, increase young people’s awareness and understanding of healthy relationships and focus on the prev...

In England and Northern Ireland, children are the only group of people not fully protected in law from physical assault. Our recommendations demonstrate to Government policymakers both the practicalities of removing the 'reasonable punishment defence’ from law and the appropriate next steps to reduc...

In January 2019 we responded to the Scottish Parliament Equalities and Human Rights Committee consultation on the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill. We support the proposal to abolish the defence of reasonable chastisement.

The RCPCH has annual income in excess of £15m per year with expenditure of a similar size. The College reserves and cash balances have increased in recent years. This policy sets out how these balances can be invested.

Our webinar series talks the viewer through the chapters of the 2015 publication.

​Paediatricians and other clinicians often have to take very difficult decisions while acting in strict accordance with the law and with sensitivity towards the customs and beliefs practiced by their patients and their patients' families. These resources are intended to support the training and crit...

Clinical research involving children is essential if we are to increase our understanding of childhood conditions and improve healthcare for children. Yet our 2015 survey of the paediatric workforce demonstrated that very few paediatricians have time allocated for research-related activities related...