Who can give consent for minors to be admitted to acute or long-term inpatient care?
• Admission to any inpatient setting requires a determination of medical necessity, financial eligibility, and willingness of the program to admit the youth. • The following are referred to as voluntary admissions: • For all minors under 13 years of age, a parent must give consent. • A minor 13-18 years of age and their parents may jointly give consent. • A minor 13-18 years of age may give consent for admission without parental agreement. • The treatment facility must notify the parents in a way that will most likely reach the parent within twenty-four hours of the admission. RCW 71.34.044 • Involuntary admission: • In the event of any minor 13 years of age or older (and/or his/her parent) refuses admission, the minor may be evaluated and detained involuntarily by a DMHP (DMHP) in accordance with RCW 71.34. • If the DMHP makes a decision that the minor does not require inpatient treatment, the parent can seek review of that decision made by the DMHP in court. RCW 71.34 • Parent initia
