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House approves ECT consent and reporting bill, setting age limit and disclosure requirements
Summary
The House passed HB 109 requiring written informed consent, semiannual reporting and a prohibition on ECT for children under 14; passage followed extended debate between proponents citing inconsistent consent and opponents citing mainstream medical practice and burdensome reporting. Vote: 46-21.
The Utah House on Feb. 25 approved the first substitute to House Bill 109, which imposes informed-consent standards and reporting requirements for electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) and prohibits its use on children younger than 14. The chamber passed the measure 46–21 and referred it to the Senate.
Sponsor Representative Bryson told colleagues the measure draws from a Texas statute and targets three areas: prohibition for children under 14, standardized written informed consent (nature, risks, probable outcome) and a semiannual reporting regime including age, diagnosis, number of treatments and adverse events. Bryson said the bill aims to provide consistent disclosures and a public reporting baseline.
Opponents including Representative Last and others argued that ECT is a mainstream, last-resort medical treatment for severe depression and that existing consent practices are generally adequate. Representative Last said the bill risked stigmatizing a legitimate treatment and questioned the value of the proposed reporting. Proponents countered with personal anecdotes of harms and said consent forms and practices in state hospitals vary; Representative Pace described a case in which a patient experienced long-term memory effects after ECT and urged stronger written consent.
Debate also touched on whether national medical organizations oppose the bill; the sponsor said a circulated list of organizations opposing the bill had been distributed inappropriately and that some groups (including NAMI) support aspects of the measure. The bill's reporting requirements were described as intended to improve oversight and transparency about a procedure that, while not common, carries known risks.
The House approved the first substitute on a 46–21 vote. The bill now moves to the Senate for additional consideration.
