H_HHS_2024A 05/03/2024 05:34:06 PM Committee Summary

The primary bill
sponsors, Representatives Young and Bradfield, introduced House Bill 24-1471
to the House Health and Human Services Committee. Current law allows electroconvulsive
treatment (ECT) to be performed on minors who are between 16 and 18 years
old, have the consent of a parent or guardian, and have been approved by
two medical practitioners specializing in psychiatry. The bill permits
minors under the age of 16 years old to receive ECT if the following conditions
are met: two licensed medical professionals specializing in psychiatry
approve of the treatment; other less-invasive treatments have failed; ECT
is necessary due to severity of the minor’s condition; ECT is performed
by at least one physician or physician’s designee; and the minor’s parent
or guardian consents to the treatment.



The bill sponsors
provided a printed handout to members of the committee (Attachment A).

Dr. Thomas Zimmer,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Beau Carubia,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Anastasia Klott,
representing Emily Wroblewski, testified in support of the bill.



Amy Lyden, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Additional written
testimony was submited to the committee (Attachment B).

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.