Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 9, § 784.29 - Informed Consent to Medical Treatment

(a) It is the responsibility of a physician to determine what information a reasonable person in the client's condition and circumstances would consider material to a decision to accept or refuse a proposed treatment or procedure. The disclosure of any material information and obtaining informed consent shall be the responsibility of the a physician.

(b) Informed consent must include a verbal explanation by a physician of the client's right to refuse or accept medical treatment. It must include a written consent form signed by the client indicating the above information has been given. The signed consent form is to be obtained and kept in the client's record as specified in Sections 851 and 852.

(c) No medical treatment may be administered to a client without informed consent except in an emergency situation as defined by Section 853 or circumstances otherwise authorized by law.

(d) The client has the right to accept or refuse the proposed treatment, and if he or she consents, has the right to revoke his or her consent for any reason at any time. Licensed mental health professionals or licensed nursing staff shall verify that the client's health record contains documentation that the client has given informed consent to the proposed treatment or procedure.

(e) This section shall not be construed to require obtaining informed consent each time a treatment or procedure is administered unless material circumstances or risks change.

(f) Treatment may be initiated without informed consent if there is documentation within the client's health record that an emergency exists where there is an unanticipated condition in which immediate action is necessary for preservation of life or the prevention of serious bodily harm to the client or others or to alleviate severe physical pain, and it is impracticable to obtain the required consent, and provided that the action taken is within the customary practice of physicians of good standing in similar circumstances.

(g) A general consent provision in a contract for admission shall only encompass consent for routine nursing care or emergency care. Routine nursing care, as used in this section, means a treatment or procedure that does not require informed consent as specified in this section, or that is determined by the physician not to require the disclosure of information material to the individual client. Routine nursing care includes, but is not limited to, care that does not require the order of a physician. This section does not preclude the use of informed consent forms for any specific treatment or procedure at the time of admission or at any other time. All consent provisions or forms shall indicate that the client or incapacitated client's legal representative may revoke his or her consent at any time.

(h) If a client or his or her legal representative cannot communicate with the physician because of language or communication barriers, the mental health rehabilitation center shall arrange for an interpreter.

(1) An interpreter shall be someone who is fluent in both English and the language used by the client and his or her legal representative, or someone who can communicate with a deaf person, if deafness is the communication barrier.

(2) When interpreters are used, they shall be physically present and documentation shall be placed in the client record indicating the name of the person who acted as the interpreter and his or her relationship to the client and to the mental health rehabilitation center.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 9, § 784.29

1. New section filed 8-21-95 as an emergency; operative 8-21-95 (Register 95, No. 34). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-17-95 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. New section refiled 2-9-96 as an emergency; operative 2-9-96 (Register 96, No. 6). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 6-8-96 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
3. New section refiled 6-10-96 as an emergency; operative 6-10-96 (Register 96, No. 24). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 10-8-96 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
4. New section refiled 10-8-96 as an emergency; operative 10-8-96 (Register 96, No. 41). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-5-97 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
5. Certificate of Compliance as to 10-8-96 order transmitted to OAL 2-5-97; disapproved by OAL and order of repeal as to 10-8-96 order filed on 3-21-97 (Register 97, No. 12).
6. New section filed 3-21-97 as an emergency; operative 3-21-97 (Register 97, No. 12). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 7-21-97 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
7. Certificate of Compliance as to 3-21-97 order, including renumbering of former section 784.29 to new section 784.38, and renumbering of former section 784.30 to new section 784.29 with amendment of section heading and section, transmitted to OAL 7-21-97 and filed 8-21-97 (Register 97, No. 34).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 5675 and 5768, Welfare and Institutions Code; Section 3 of Chapter 678 of the Statutes of 1994. Reference: Sections 5675 and 5768, Welfare and Institutions Code.

1. New section filed 8-21-95 as an emergency; operative 8-21-95 (Register 95, No. 34). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-17-95 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. New section refiled 2-9-96 as an emergency; operative 2-9-96 (Register 96, No. 6). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 6-8-96 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
3. New section refiled 6-10-96 as an emergency; operative 6-10-96 (Register 96, No. 24). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 10-8-96 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
4. New section refiled 10-8-96 as an emergency; operative 10-8-96 (Register 96, No. 41). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-5-97 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
5. Certificate of Compliance as to 10-8-96 order transmitted to OAL 2-5-97; disapproved by OAL and order of repeal as to 10-8-96 order filed on 3-21-97 (Register 97, No. 12).
6. New section filed 3-21-97 as an emergency; operative 3-21-97 (Register 97, No. 12). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 7-21-97 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
7. Certificate of Compliance as to 3-21-97 order, including renumbering of former section 784.29 to new section 784.38, and renumbering of former section 784.30 to new section 784.29 with amendment of section heading and section, transmitted to OAL 7-21-97 and filed 8-21-97 (Register 97, No. 34).