dillemma about getting ds to participate in allergy research study, would welcome your views

[ggirl]

ds is due to have a food challenge soon for tree nuts
today received letter about participating in study that I would usually immediately agree to as feel the more research done the better for us and others living with allergies
however this one means ds (8yr) having blood taken before and after food challenge , and then once or twice more at later dates
ds has had blood taken , he was very brave and coped well with lots of cuddles
now I could quite easily say yes to this and ds would get all the blood taken anyway as he's a child and would think it was just what is needed. He wouldn't enjoy it but ultimately wouldn't come to any harm

But should I tell him it's voluntary and let him say no if that what he decides despite me explaining the benefits of research etc.
Or just say yes and leave him none the wiser ?
Preparing for a flaming here.

I'd let him choose.

yes , thinking about it I think you're right
will talk it over with dh
lets see how altruistic he is

hmmm
just talked it over with dh
he thinks we should just present it to ds as a given
say this is what needs to be done and not give him a choice
he thinks he's too young to make that decision and will not suffer from giving blood
how do we expect research and development without participating?
am now veering towards dh' way of thinking

My adult DS is allergic to all nuts.

If this challenge had been available when he was a child I would have made the decision for him & he would have taken part.

Look at it this way - when he's an adult it could benefit him greatly, but if no-one opted in the trial couldn't go ahead.

If this was my ds who has a peanut allergy, I would be telling him what a fantastic altruistic thing he could do, explain how it could help others but I would make it clear he was doing it.
It's our duty to help others in this way imo
Hang on I'll ask ds as well

I think in lots of scenarios parents give "consent" on behalf of their children. Yes, children still have the right to refuse treatment ultimately, but if you just explain it to him as given, then he will not likely object too vehemently. After all, most children if given the choice would decide not to have any jabs, blood tests etc! Just explain that it is to benefit him and other children like him.

ds says he would want to help, but he doesn't think he should be made to.
sorry no help there.

Your DS sounds very sweet Ingles2.

The trouble is, 8 year olds just aren't altruistic! I can't think of a single one who would volunteer to have blood taken.

My DS at 30 still almost faints at the thought of it

hmm think we will agree to it and present it to ds as a given
big treat after for being brave
but no big explanations I think cos knowing ds he'll take the easy way out and refuse
he was very proud of himself having the last blood test so he'll be super proud after this...non?

Yes I think so!

I'd present it as a given but explain that by doing it he is doing a fab thing that will help him and other people, and yes a big treat afterwards.

DS participated in the paeds final exams at our local hospital twice (can't do it this year as I can't get time off work unfortunately). I told him that we were volunteering to do it as it was important that doctors got to learn how to be doctors and it was thanks to people who'd done this before he was born that there were doctors now who could help him....although I think I probably explained it more coherently at the time .

Just asked DS (6), he said he'd like to help but wouldn't if he had to have a needle in his arm again! I'd present it as a given.

thanks for your views everyone
think we will presentas a given and give big treat afterwards

thanks your teen for her view nottirednow ,i agree with her