Ethics | RCPCH

Ethics

News

Board of Trustees response to AGM 2025

7 April 2025

Following the passing of a member-submitted motion at the College’s 2025 AGM, the Board of Trustees has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children’s rights in Gaza.

News

Sustainable staffing and climate challenges - President's blog

4 November 2022

In the run up to COP27, Camilla reflects on the challenges to child health brought by climate change. She also highlights the 'Thrive Paediatrics' programme, as it moves forward with two Clinical Fellows posts open for recruitment.

Resource

Academy of Medical Royal Colleges statement on Gillick Competency

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.

Ethics

Transition to adult

News

COVID-19 - message from the President, 17 April

17 April 2020

"It’s been another extraordinary week and there are many more in front of us. I hope you got some time over the Easter weekend to rest and get a break." Russell addresses members in his weekly message.

Resource

Achieving consensus - on prevention, recognition and management of conflict in paediatric practice

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...

Area of medicine

Palliative care

Ethics

Basic page

Due diligence on accepting funding

Our acceptance and refusals of donations policy, which you can download below, sets out robust safeguards for the engagement with commercial organisations.

Ethics

Governance and regulation

News

RCPCH statement on the Alfie Evans case

24 April 2018

"As healthcare professionals involved in the care of babies, children and young people, the priority has to be the child", says RCPCH President. This case is extremely difficult for all involved; heartbreaking for his parents and emotionally challenging for the doctors and nurses involved in treatin...

Resource

Professional ethics and law resources

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...

Ethics

Committee

Ethics and the Law Advisory Committee (ELAC)

The ELAC is the College lead on interpreting the principles of ethics as they underpin day-to-day medical practice. The Committee looks at the constantly evolving legal and ethical worlds and how they interact within the paediatric field.

Resource

Protection of time for paediatricians to take part in Research Ethics Committees

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...

Ethics

Research