Championing Ethical Engagement of Youth in Healthcare: A Reflective Commentary

Engaging youth as advisors in health research and service delivery is a rapidly growing practice, yet there are no consistent frameworks or ethical guidelines available to ensure the protection of this vulnerable population from unintended harm. This commentary aims to bring awareness to 3 ethical complexities observed in the authors' own participation within the field of youth engagement in health research and service delivery: (1) a lack of standardized safeguards for youth advisors, (2) a lack of accountability for the safety of youth advisors, and (3) the need to cater engagement activities to the development and well-being of youth. Further, recommendations for meaningfully engaging youth advisors are proposed with the aim of ensuring their safety and enabling opportunities to drive impactful outcomes in health care.