British Medical Bulletin
Volume 102, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 17-42

Medical, statistical, ethical and human rights considerations in the assessment of age in children and young people subject to immigration control (Review) (Open Access)

Aynsley-Green A.* , Cole T.J. , Crawley H. , Lessof N. , Boag L.R. , Wallace R.M.M.
  • a University College London, London WC1N 3JH, United Kingdom, Aynsley-Green Consulting, Old Parsonage, Harnham, Salisbury SP2 8LE, United Kingdom
  • b MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
  • c Centre for Migration Policy Research (CMPR), Wallace Building, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
  • d Department of General Paediatrics, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3JH, United Kingdom
  • e University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, United Kingdom
  • f Centre for Rural Childhood, Perth College UHI, Crieff Road, Perth PH1 2NX, United Kingdom

Abstract

Background: Unprecedented changes in both the scale and the complexity of international migration have led to international concern and controversy over the assessment of age in children and young people subject to immigration control or seeking asylum who say they are children yet have no documents to prove their stated age.Sources of data: The article reviews the existing evidence on the reliability of medical and non-medical techniques for the assessment of chronological age.Areas of agreement: There is evidence that radiography (X-rays) of bones and teeth, which is increasingly relied upon by immigration authorities, is imprecise, unethical and potentially unlawful, and should not be used for age assessment.Areas of controversy: Medical techniques including X-rays continue to be relied upon in the absence of an alternative approach resulting in legal challenges and uncertainty for children and young people.Areas timely for developing research: Further work is needed to establish a process for age assessment based on a 'holistic' multi-disciplinary approach which focuses not on chronological age exclusively but rather on the needs of children and young people subject to immigration control. © 2012 The Author.

Author Keywords

Asylum Age assessment Children Immigration

Index Keywords

statistical analysis medical assessment bone age Europe human immigration ethics Refugees tooth radiography priority journal international cooperation Age Determination by Skeleton human rights bone radiography Humans Bioethical Issues reliability Review Child Welfare Age Determination by Teeth age determination legal aspect Age Factors Emigration and Immigration anthropometry medical procedures Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84861801085&doi=10.1093%2fbmb%2flds014&partnerID=40&md5=f0091d31524c5e7d5f9ae35a7e5a870c
DOI: 10.1093/bmb/lds014
ISSN: 00071420
Cited by: 47
Original Language: English