The proposed bill seeks to amend the conditions under which electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be performed on minors aged 15 or younger in Colorado. Currently, ECT can be administered to minors under 16 only if:
Two licensed psychiatrists approve the treatment.
Less-invasive treatments have failed.
ECT is medically necessary to treat life-threatening malignant catatonia.
The procedure is performed by a trained and credentialed physician or their designee.
The minor's parent or guardian consents.
The bill proposes removing the condition that ECT is medically necessary to treat life-threatening malignant catatonia. It also grants minors the right to object to ECT verbally or in writing, with specified procedures for handling such objections. However, if ECT is deemed medically necessary to treat life-threatening malignant catatonia, the minor would have no legal authority to object.
This change aims to provide healthcare professionals with greater flexibility in treating minors with severe psychiatric conditions, while also establishing clear protocols for handling minors' objections to ECT.
Summary
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.
