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Pediatric Ethics

Meaning

Pediatric ethics is a specialized branch of bioethics that addresses the unique moral and legal considerations involved in the healthcare of infants, children, and adolescents. It centers on the complex balance between the child’s emerging autonomy, the parents’ or guardians’ decisional authority, and the clinician’s obligation to act in the child’s best interest. In the hormonal health space, this is particularly relevant for decisions regarding puberty suppression, gender-affirming care, and the management of congenital endocrine disorders. Ethical practice mandates a thoughtful approach to informed assent from the minor alongside informed consent from the legal guardian.