Etika dan Hukum dalam Pelayanan Kedokteran Gigi Anak: Studi terhadap Informed Consent dan Perlindungan Pasien

Abstract

Pediatric dental care requires special attention to ethical and legal aspects, as child patients do not yet have the legal capacity to provide medical consent independently. This study addresses the problem of how the principle of informed consent is applied in pediatric dental practice and to what extent legal protection for child patients in Indonesia has been effectively implemented. Using a normative juridical approach combined with comparative analysis of statutory regulations—particularly Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health and Law No. 35 of 2014 on Child Protection—this research examines the gap between legal norms and clinical practice. The findings reveal that informed consent procedures are often carried out without adequate documentation and without explanations tailored to the child’s level of understanding, thereby potentially violating medical ethics and the rights of child patients. The novelty of this study lies in identifying the need for strengthening technical regulations and enhancing the role of ethics committees as more effective accountability mechanisms. The study recommends improving legal literacy among medical professionals and optimizing ethical oversight to ensure pediatric dental services are delivered safely, with dignity, and in accordance with principles of justice and legal protection.