Section 388-865-0576. Minor children ages thirteen through seventeen—Admission, treatment, and discharge without parental consent—Evaluation and treatment facility.

(1) Under RCW 71.34.500, an evaluation and treatment facility may admit a minor child who is at least thirteen years of age and not older than seventeen years of age without the consent of the minor's parent(s) when:

(a) In the judgment of the professional person in charge of the facility, there is reason to believe that the minor is in need of inpatient treatment because of a mental disorder;

(b) The facility provides the type of evaluation and treatment needed by the minor;

(c) It is not feasible to treat the minor in a less restrictive setting or in the minor's home; and

(d) The minor gives written consent for the voluntary inpatient treatment.

(2) The evaluation and treatment facility must provide notice to the minor's parent(s) when the minor is voluntarily admitted. The notice must be in a form most likely to reach the minor's parent(s) within twenty-four hours of the minor's voluntary admission and advise the parent(s):

(a) That the minor has been admitted to inpatient treatment;

(b) Of the location and telephone number of the facility;

(c) Of the name of the professional staff member designated to provide the minor's treatment and discuss the minor's need for inpatient treatment; and

(d) Of the medical necessity for the minor's admission.

(3) The evaluation and treatment facility must:

(a) Review and document the minor's need for continued inpatient treatment at least every one hundred eighty days; and

(b) Obtain a renewal of the minor's written consent for the voluntary inpatient treatment at least every twelve calendar months.

(4) A minor admitted to an evaluation and treatment facility under RCW 71.34.500 may give notice of intent to leave at any time. The notice must be in writing, signed by the minor, and clearly state the minor intends to leave the facility.

(a) The facility staff member receiving the notice must:

(i) Immediately date it;

(ii) Record its existence in the minor's clinical record; and

(iii) Send a copy to the:

(A) Minor's attorney, if the minor has one;

(B) County-designated mental health professional; and

(C) Minor's parent(s).

(b) The facility must ensure a facility professional staff member discharges the minor from the facility by the second judicial day following receipt of the minor's notice of intent to leave.

(5) The evaluation and treatment facility must obtain parental consent, or authorization from a person who may consent on behalf of the minor under RCW 7.70.065, before admitting a minor child twelve years of age or younger.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 71.05.560, 71.24.035, 71.34.375, 71.34.500, 71.34.510, 71.34.520, 71.34.610, 71.34.620, 71.34.630, 71.34.640, 71.34.650, 71.34.750, and 2011 c 302. WSR 12-21-133, § 388-865-0576, filed 10/24/12, effective 11/24/12.]

RCW 71.05.560, 71.24.035, 71.34.375, 71.34.500, 71.34.510, 71.34.520, 71.34.610, 71.34.620, 71.34.630, 71.34.640, 71.34.650, 71.34.750, and 2011 c 302. WSR 12-21-133, § 388-865-0576, filed 10/24/12, effective 11/24/12.