Which of the following is listed as an example of vulnerable groups?

• A. College professors
• B. Minors
• C. Newborns
• D. Athletes

Answer: (B)

Minors are a classic example of a vulnerable group because they lack the legal and practical capacity to give fully informed consent to participate in research or medical interventions. Since they cannot reliably understand complex information about risks and benefits, their decisions cannot be considered autonomous in the same way as adults. Because of this, a parent or guardian must provide permission, and researchers often seek the child’s assent as well, recognizing the child’s developing ability to participate in the decision. This combination of dependence, limited capacity to understand, and potential for coercion or undue influence is what underpins the need for extra protections—such as heightened risk minimization, independent review, and additional safeguards to act in the child’s best interests. While other groups like newborns, college professors, or athletes may face specific protections in certain situations, minors are the clearest and most widely cited example of a vulnerable population.