Summary excerpt from Statement of Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group: Children are perhaps the most vulnerable group of the general population with regard to possible exploitation in clinical research protocols, and yet they are the group that can have the most significant and prolonged benefit from such studies. Every effort must be made to retain the dignity and well-being of children in every step of the clinical protocol process. This includes solicitation for study participation, explanation of risks and benefit of the study, obtainment of consent from parents and assent from children of appropriate age, monitoring for treatment side effects, and presentation and publication of research information.