Thoreau

Balancing protection and respect in paediatrics

“…For this young person there will be no challenges posed and met, no formation of lasting adult relationships and, most importantly, no chance of the emergence and exploration of a unique and evolving identity. They go to the grave, in the words of the American author Henry Thoreau, “with their song still in them” 1. Such tragedy underlines the moral importance of providing children with such opportunities to flourish and doing our best to respect their evolving autonomy.…”