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Children’s rights in pediatrics

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Abstract

The United Nations Convention of Children’s Rights (UNCRC) introduced in 1989 has generated a global movement for the protection of children’s rights and has brought about a paradigm change in how children are perceived. Pediatric healthcare professionals are interacting with children and therefore with children’s rights on a daily basis. However, although at least 18 of the 54 articles are relevant for pediatric practice, there is limited systematic training on how pediatricians can support children’s rights in the clinical setting. This article discusses the principles and aims of the UNCRC and proposes a comprehensive checklist of rights vis-à-vis issues that arise in clinical practice.

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Notes

  1. The UNCRC defines a child as any person younger than age 18 years, unless an earlier age of majority is recognized by a country’s law.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biomedical Ethics, University of Zurich, Pestalozzistr. 24, CH-8032, Zürich, Switzerland

    Jürg C. Streuli & Effy Vayena

  2. Legal Science Institute, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 74, CH-8001, Zürich, Switzerland

    Margot Michel

Authors
  1. Jürg C. Streuli
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  2. Margot Michel
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  3. Effy Vayena
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Correspondence to Jürg C. Streuli.

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Streuli, J.C., Michel, M. & Vayena, E. Children’s rights in pediatrics. Eur J Pediatr 170, 9–14 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1205-8

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