Ethical considerations in pediatric critical care research

Pediatric critical care nurses are exposed to research in the critical care environment on a routine basis and should be knowledgeable about the ethical considerations inherent in this process. The following discussion includes information that centers on the ethical issues of conducting research with children. First, children as a vulnerable population is explored, followed by selected ethical principles that pertain to research, the role of the technological imperative in research, the process of informed consent, and finally, nursing considerations.