Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 9, § 849 - Excessive Use of Convulsive Treatment

(a) Convulsive treatments shall be considered excessive if more than 15 treatments are given to a patient within a 30-day period, or a total or more than 30 treatments are given to a patient within a one-year period.

(b) If, in the judgment of the attending physician, more than the above limits are indicated, prior approval must first be obtained from the review committee of the facility or county, whichever is appropriate. (Sections 847 and 848.) Requests for approval shall include documentation of the diagnosis, the clinical findings leading to the recommendation for the additional treatments, the consideration of other reasonable treatment modalities and the opinion that additional treatments pose less risk than other potentially effective alternatives available for the particular patient at the present time. A maximum number of additional treatments shall be specified. The review committee shall act upon any such request within seven days of its receipt and shall document the maximum number of additional treatments approved. All applicable informed consent procedures shall also be followed.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 9, § 849

Note: Authority cited: Sections 5326.95 and 5400, Welfare and Institutions Code. Reference: Section 5326.95, Welfare and Institutions Code.