The forensic evaluation and treatment of children: ethics and values

This article will review the history of ethics and values in the forensic evaluations and treatment of children. Topics to be discussed include paternalism, advocacy, parental responsibility, and legal doctrine of parens patriae. Various aspects of the treatment of children, including medications, behavior modification, and psychotherapy, are also examined for ethical considerations. Agency consultation in conflicts of ethics that are associated with public laws are also addressed. The ethical implications of the use of children in any research as research subjects is also addressed.