Parents wary of pediatric clinical trials if risks not minimal

Although most parents require that their children receive only medication approved by the FDA, few parents want their kids to participate in new drug research.

According to results from the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, 77% of parents want only FDA-approved treatments for their kids, while 30% would allow their children to participate in clinical studies that involve new treatments.

However, if the risk of harm is minimal, many parents would consider allowing their children to participate: 36% would consider child participation if their child had the same disease as the one being studied, and 25% would allow their child to be a healthy volunteer.

The poll also found that 92% of parents have never been asked to have their children participate in clinical research.