PE32.1 | Physician in the Community — Glossary

A child's affirmative agreement to a medical procedure; ethically sought from children approximately ≥7 years old, though not legally binding; distinct from consent.

The patient's right to make informed decisions; in paediatrics, this resides primarily with parents (proxy autonomy) but evolves towards the child as they mature cognitively and emotionally.

The ethical principle of acting in the patient's best interest; in paediatrics, this is interpreted as promoting the child's overall welfare — physical, psychological, and social.

The primary legal and ethical standard for decisions affecting children (JJ Act 2015, UNCRC Article 3); asks what course of action best promotes the child's overall welfare, not merely parental preference.

Failure by a caregiver to provide for a child's basic needs — nutritional, medical, emotional, or supervisory — to the extent that the child's health or development is endangered; distinguished from poverty by the absence of adequate caregiving, not merely the absence of resources.

A statutory quasi-judicial body under the JJ Act 2015, functioning at the district level; has magistrate-equivalent powers for child welfare proceedings including placement, rehabilitation, and medical care orders.

The ethical and legal obligation of a physician to keep patient information private; in paediatrics, overridden when the child's welfare or safety requires disclosure to protective authorities, as in mandatory reporting under POCSO and JJ Act.

Legal principle permitting a physician to administer emergency treatment to a minor without parental consent when delay in obtaining consent would cause serious harm or death and the parent cannot be contacted in time.

The ethical principle that a child's autonomy rights increase progressively with cognitive and emotional development; underpins Gillick competence and adolescent confidentiality in clinical practice.

Differential access to or quality of medical care, nutrition, or vaccination based on the child's sex; an ethically and legally prohibited form of discrimination documented in parts of India; paediatricians have a duty to advocate for equitable care.

A legal concept (from Gillick v. West Norfolk, 1985) holding that a minor may consent to specific health interventions if they demonstrate sufficient maturity and understanding; applied in Indian medical ethics for adolescent health decisions, though not fully codified in Indian statute.

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 — replaced JJ Act 2000; defines children in need of care and protection (CNCP) and mandates their referral to the Child Welfare Committee.

A legal obligation to report certain offences or conditions to authorities regardless of personal preference; under POCSO Section 19, any person with knowledge or apprehension of a sexual offence against a child must report to police or SJPU.

Medical records prepared with awareness of their potential use as evidence in legal proceedings; requires accuracy, objectivity, verbatim quotes from caregivers, precise injury description, and time-stamping.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights — established under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005; monitors child rights enforcement and investigates complaints at the national level.

Physical injury to a child resulting from deliberate harm rather than accidental causes; suspected when injury pattern is inconsistent with the given history, injuries are in unusual locations, or are in different stages of healing.

The ethical principle of avoiding harm; in paediatrics, includes the harm of both over-treatment and under-treatment, and the harm of denying a child medically necessary care.

A legally recognised right of parents to decline medical interventions for their child; not absolute — it cannot override a child's right to life (Article 21 of the Indian Constitution), and courts may order treatment over parental objection where life is at risk.

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act — Indian statute defining all sexual offences against children below 18 years; imposes mandatory reporting (Section 19) on all persons including healthcare providers; failure to report is a criminal offence (Section 21).

Consent given on behalf of a person who lacks legal capacity; in paediatrics, provided by the parent or legal guardian for a child below 18 years.

A clinical state defined by WHO/IAP as weight-for-height < −3 SD, MUAC <11.5 cm (in children 6–59 months), or the presence of bilateral pedal oedema; in context of neglect, a key indicator of nutritional neglect.

A dedicated police unit established in every district under POCSO Act 2012 to handle offences against children; the primary recipient of mandatory reports under Section 19.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), ratified by India in 1992; establishes international child rights across survival, development, protection, and participation; Article 3 (best interests), Article 12 (right to be heard), Article 19 (protection from violence).