17th National Paediatric Bioethics Conference
We are pleased to announce the 17th National Paediatric Bioethics Conference
The ‘best interests’ standard - myth, mandate or moving target?
Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne 2nd - 4th September 2026.
The ‘best interests’ standard can sometimes present as a mythic ideal; an apparently objective, singular answer to what should be done for a child. The ‘best interests’ standard can also function as a mandate. It is a legal and ethical obligation that
requires the wellbeing of the child to be the basis for paediatric decision-making, providing a protective framework and justification for medical decisions in this vulnerable population. In reality, the ‘best interests’ standard is also a moving
target, shaped by evolving evidence, shifting social and cultural norms and values, advances in medicine, and the unique circumstances of each child and family. What is considered in a child’s best interests may change over time, vary across disciplines
or between individuals with unique values, or differ between communities.
The standard position in paediatric practice is to defer to parents as the legally and ethically recognised decision-maker for their child. This sometimes causes tension and conflict where parents and clinicians disagree. This year’s conference will focus
on the challenges of deciding what is best for the child in clinical practice. We will explore the complexity of the foundational ethical and legal ‘best interest’ principle, as well as alternative concepts for guiding paediatric decision-making including
the ‘Harm Principle’, ‘Constrained Parental Autonomy’, the ‘Reasonable Interest’ standard, and the ‘Zone of Parental Discretion’. While an objective, consensus view on what constitutes any child’s best interests may remain a myth, there is value in pursuing
a collective understanding.
In the conference we will explore the following questions:
Join us, 2-4 September 2026, at The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, to examine the 'best interests' standard.
Register now for the event via Trybooking.
Keynote Speakers
Dr Erica Salter
|
Dr James Cameron
|
 |
|
|
Associate Professor of Health Care Ethics
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Chair, Department of Health Care Ethics
Saint Louis University
Co-Chair, Ethics Committee
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital
|
Barrister
Honorary Research Fellow
Melbourne Law School
University of Melbourne
|
| Dr Salter is an Associate Professor of Health Care Ethics and Pediatrics at Saint Louis University's Department of Health Care Ethics and Department of Pediatrics. She is the chair of the department of Health Care Ethics and the co-chair
of the Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital Ethics Committee. Dr. Salter publishes widely on topics related to clinical ethics consultation, pediatric ethics and pediatric decision-making. |
Dr Cameron is currently a barrister at the Victorian Bar, where he primarily practices in public law and health law.
Before coming to the Bar, James held a number of roles in the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Health. In these roles, he provided advice on the development of complex legislation, such as the Medical Treatment Planning
and Decisions Act 2016 and the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017.
Dr Cameron is an Honorary Fellow at the Melbourne Law School, having earlier completed a PhD there. James’ written work has been published in Australian and international journals and he has authored a book, Critically Ill Children and
the Law (Routledge, 2023).
|
Registration
Registration for the event can be done through Trybooking (https://www.trybooking.com/DJXOO).
Call for abstracts
Abstract submission close Sunday May 17th, 2026
Submit your abstract here (https://forms.office.com/r/c60uFfJpiR).
Conference queries? Contact the team at bioethics@rch.org.au