Electroconvulsive Treatment for Minors

For a minor who is 15 years of age or younger, current law authorizes electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) to be performed if certain conditions are met, including that ECT is medically necessary to treat life-threatening malignant catatonia. The bill removes this condition.

The bill authorizes the minor to object to ECT verbally or in writing and sets forth the procedures for when a minor objects. A minor has no legal authority to object to ECT if the ECT is medically necessary to treat life-threatening malignant catatonia.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)