All children and young people are entitled to protection from abuse and neglect. Good Medical Practice places a duty on all doctors to protect and promote the health and well-being of children and young people. This means all doctors must act on any concerns they have about the safety or welfare of a child or young person. This guidance aims to help doctors to protect children and young people who are living with their families or living away from home, including those being looked after by a local authority. In this guidance _*‘abuse or neglect’_ means physical, emotional or sexual abuse, including fabricated or induced illness, and emotional or physical neglect, which has led, or may lead, to significant harm to a child or young person. All *doctors have a duty to keep up to date with, and follow, the relevant laws, codes of practice and guidance, including our advice in Good Medical Practice and 0–18 years: guidance for all doctors and our guidance on confidentiality and consent. These booklets provide more advice on assessing capacity, and making decisions about treatment relating to the health of children and young people.