HB 1552 -- Mental Health Treatment

Co-Sponsors:  Linton, Holand

This bill requires licensed or certified mental health care
providers and organizations to obtain written informed consent
from mental health patients or a legal guardian prior to
providing mental health treatments.

Prior to providing mental health care treatments, licensed or
certified mental health care providers are required to:

(1)  Truthfully inform patients of the provider's training and
credentials;

(2)  Inform patients of their right to withdraw consent for
treatment at any time; and

(3)  Truthfully inform patients of risks, hazards, and relative
benefits of all proposed mental health treatments and alternative
treatments.

Mental health care provider licensing boards are required to
adopt and enforce rules of professional conduct concerning the
informed consent required by the bill.  If any mental health
patient is incompetent, written informed consent and a signature
must be obtained from a legal guardian.

Mental health care providers who violate the provisions of the
bill can be subject to revocation or suspension of their license
or certification to practice in Missouri.  Each violation will be
reported to the public upon request.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:01 am