Rhode Island § 14-5-5 - Treatment of Juveniles for Chemical Dependency

§ 14-5-5. Acknowledgment of treatment — Clinical record.

(a) Before a licensed facility may provide treatment services to a child without parental consent, the facility must obtain written acknowledgement from the child authorizing his or her evaluation and receipt of treatment services. Before requesting that a minor sign that acknowledgment, the child must be:

(1) Advised of the purpose and nature of treatment services;

(2) Told that he or she may withdraw the signed acknowledgment and cease participation in the treatment service at any time;

(3) Told that the facility will make attempts to convince the child of the need for involvement of other family members in treatment and the facility’s preference for parental consent for the rendering of treatment services; and

(4) Advised that a medical/clinical record of his or her treatment services will be made and maintained by the facility.

(b) The signed form shall be included in the child’s clinical record. The clinical record shall include full documentation of the reasons why treatment was provided without parental consent and of all attempts made prior to and during the course of treatment to obtain that consent.