§ 17a-81 — (Formerly Sec. 17-205h). Parental consent necessary for treatment. Exceptions.

(a) Parental consent shall be necessary for treatment. In the event such consent is withheld or immediately unavailable and the physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse certified as a psychiatric mental health provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center concludes that treatment is necessary to prevent serious harm to the child, such emergency treatment may be administered pending receipt of parental consent. (b) Involuntary patients may receive medication and treatment without their consent, or the consent of their parents, but no medical or surgical procedures may be performed without the written informed consent of: (1) The child's parent, if he or she has one; or (2) such child's next of kin; or (3) a qualified physician appointed by a judge of the Probate Court who signed the order of hospitalization, except in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. (c) If the head of a hospital, in consultation with a physician, determines that the condition of a child, whether a voluntary or involuntary patient, is of an extremely critical nature, then emergency measures may be taken without the consent otherwise provided for in this section.

Legislative History

(P.A. 79-511, S. 7; P.A. 19-98, S. 1; P.A. 21-196, S. 18.) History: Sec. 17-205h transferred to Sec. 17a-81 in 1991; P.A. 19-98 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “or advanced practice registered nurse certified as a psychiatric mental health provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center”; P.A. 21-196 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to physician assistant.