SummaryUndertaking research in children creates many legal and ethical dilemmas and it is essential that paediatric anaesthetists fully understand the complex issues raised. Most commentators agree that therapeutic research is justified. The question of non‐therapeutic research, however, is much more controversial, with widespread disagreement about its ethical justification. The extreme arguments advocating no research at all or justifying it as a duty to society are not acceptable. The middle of the road attitude of balancing the risks to the child with the many advantages to society as a whole should prevail. If risks are significant, research should not be allowed. The law itself appears to offer no statutory guidelines which, therefore, should be implemente