NJ Informed Consent Bill Passes Key Hurdle
31 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // March 14th, 2008 // 12:11 pm
A controversial New Jersey bill to require informed consent from a minor’s parent before a doc, nurse practitioner and other healthcare providers can write a prescription for any psychotropic that already carries a Black Box warning was approved overwhelmingly by the state assembly yesterday in a 72-to-3 vote. You can read the bill here. Now, an identical Senate version heads for what may be a fractious debate in the Senate health committee.
This a big leap from just three months ago, when the bill appeared to be dead after a year-long fight by a pair of New Jersey moms and their allies, who argue that informed consent is the only way to make sure info is passed from docs to patients. In particular, they’re concerned that side effects, such as suicidal behavior and thoughts, that are linked to antidepressants can be misconstrued as part of the illness. As a result, they maintain parents may not have sufficient info to recognize troubling signals.
The legislation is being closely watched by the medical community and other legislators. But what do you think?
Should Garino have disclosed the payments to the patient?
- Yes (91%, 102 Votes)
- No (10%, 11 Votes)
Total Voters: 112
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InfoGeek
Ed, I promise, promise, really, that this question is not a troll or flamebait.
Is informed consent required for RU486 under equivalent prescribing conditions (i.e. for minor children) in NJ — or anywhere else for that matter that you know of?
TIA.
- InfoGeek
Lisa Van S
InfoGeek,
Informed Consent is not required for RU486,.. Nor does RU486 carry a Black Box!
It was a “Nice” try anyway..
Anna
Why isn’t informed consent required for anything prescribed by a doctor for a minor, black-box warning label or not?
Rita
72-3 vote, how awesome!!
Linda
I guess its about time parents and everyone scrutinize the ingredients in these poisons. Open up you eyes and read between the lines. Drugs do nothing but “BLUNT THE THOUGHT PROCESS” as stated in hundreds of scientific publications. Check ut http://www.ahrp.org and see what Vera’s group thinks about the “chemically drugged induced American Children”…then go to Dr.Tracy’s site and see the “Deaths by SSRI’s and NEUROLEPTICS”.
deborrah
Considering how freely RX are written and meds are despensed, shouldn’t all parents be notified and required to give consent,before the pharmacedical companies,doctors, schools and government are allowed to medicate children. Shouldn’t all people regardless of age be allowed to know the side effects, as well as, the benefits of any drug that is marketed into our living roomes prior to taking. All people should be given the truth about all drugs, so that they may be participants in their own well-being. Children NEED an adult who is invested in their well-being to have the opportunity to be informed.
Laurie
Yes, Deborrah, in a perfect world every patient would be fully inforned. Why I feel that this Bill is so critical is due to the FDA non approved status of these drugs, the lack of efficacy shown in children in clinical trials, the suicidal/homicidal risk that is so easily misconstrued as “part of the disease”, the unknown status of long time use, the lack of acknowledment of withdrawal,and finally the unknown status of how these drugs can effect a developing brain.
So why anyone would NOT want to inform parents of the risks, which is all this Bill does, it incomprehensible to me. We expect parents to monitor the child for positive results, evidenced in behavior, but don’t want to give them the information on what to look for in a negative response? That just makes no sense. Witholding critical medical information for the sake of compliance is never an ethical practice.
Gene
Well, gee whiz Laurie, informing the parents about such risks could really hurt sales for these drugs, don’t ya think?
So wouldn’t it be more considerate of shareholders’ profits to ease off a bit on this dumb ‘informed consent’ idea?
Thanks in advance for changing your mind about this.
How much do I owe ya?
Linda
Every little bit helps. I do hope that eventually informed consent will be necessary for all psychoactive drugs.
ol cranky
I always thought that, with the exception of dire emergent circumstances and those related to STDs/abortion/contraception, the consent of a parent or guardian was required to treat a minor. It should be that way everywhere.
Sam
I believe the ruling is good, but I do have concerns. There are various types
of parents who maybe well informed; some who are inpatient with their own
child’s unusual characteristics and think a pill will solve everything; some will
be convinced by the physician. Some may not know what to do. The parents
are going to the physician for help. The physician is getting his/her information from sales reps - nobody sell stale fish.
In the NY Times March 15th issue, A Lilly CEO, a couple of years ago recommended that reps tell physicians that Zyprexa could be used for non-approved FDA indications and could be used for young children, teenagers and seniors with dementia.
The ruling tells the physician what they cannot do, but it doesn’t provide parents any guide lines or sources of information to make a good decision.
Sam
InfoGeek
Lisa Van S.,
Thanks for the info. Not sure what you mean by “a “Nice” try anyway”, well, actually I’m pretty sure I do know what you mean. You’ve obviously mistaken me for a polite troll — sorry to disappoint.
Lisa Van S wrote:
InfoGeek,
Informed Consent is not required for RU486,.. Nor does RU486 carry a Black Box!
It was a “Nice” try anyway..
ol cranky
Actually, the parents are often part of the problem since many of them are complicit in drugging their children to make them more manageable or want/need an excuse for why junior isn’t perfect (a diagnosis requiring treatment are the perfect thing for them). The children of these parents, unfortunately, won’t be helped by the informed consent bill.
Lisa Van S
Ol Cranky
Unfortunately,.. you are correct. There is one way to solve that,…. charge the Parent with negligence! Is that cruel? Maybe,.. its time parents behave like Parents and do their jobs.
On the other hand Drs. are becoming more errogant,.. and are placing children at risk. NJ Physicians arent happy with the way the Assembly voted,..Physicians need to realize that our State Legislators are also Parents,.. Parents, w/Legislative Powers!!
Lisa Van S
InfoGeek
A troll Huh?
Laurie
This bill will not stop a parent hell bent on getting their child on a drug. Sadly that will continue. But this will make a parent think twice and maybe research alternatives to drugging. It will also give those parents who decide to use a drug the information to monitor their child. That is the goal of this legislation.
Grieving
Congratulations, Lisa. I will live for the day when informed consent, signed, will be required for all psychotropic drugs. If the “patient” is an adult, perhaps a close family member will be required to serve as a witness/guardian in the situation, particularly if the “patient” is unable to show the best of judgment about the decision. Such a caveat would have great impact on people who had dementia or those with more serious mental illness.
I would like to start to work with my legislator in Maryland, if you can get in touch with me through AHRP.ORG. Having lost my son to Zyprexa with no warning or information, the idea is close to my heart.
ol cranky
agreed. the crux of the matter is that way too many physicians will capitulate to patient/parent wishes just as they do with antibiotics and drugs for weight loss. I don’t know why clinical judgment, especially that of GPs, goes out the window - maybe they’re overburdened by the capitation from insurance companies and too overwhelmed to learn enough about all the different drugs over multiple therapeutic areas (it used to be that they didn’t want to refer a patient to a specialist for fear of losing the patient and it may be resentment towards specialists/sub-specialists) and, in the end, many make poor decisions with regard to prescriptions not limited to those for psychotropic drugs. Due to the overwhelming abuse and overuse of the psychotropics, it’s obvious we need to start making adjustments with this class of drug. Not to further stigmatize psych patients, but maybe requiring a full psychiatric evaluation of any patient prior to initiation of any drug to treat depression, ADHD, or other psychiatric indication would make most parents (and GPs/pediatricians) re-think whether the child really needs the med and further evaluate the risk:benefit ratio of pharmacologic intervention.
Laurie
Ol cranky, you are absolutely right. One item brought out in the committee hearing was that most of the docs that were “disposed” in ssri lawsuits had no idea that there were “dear healthcare provider” letters telling doctors to NOT prescribe these drugs to children. So while Pharma started the deception, the doctors who didn’t even bother to do any research prior to prescribing perpetuated the problem. Maybe with this bill doctors will look beyond the drug rep for accurate information.
gloria
I would like to know the names of the 3 people who voted no. Please publish it.
Perhaps we can write to them about the 12.8 million American children on the way to be chemically lobotomized by sinister psychiatry. The investors making billions should pay for large farms to take our children away from psych wards for detoxificacion and long term rehabilitation. Our children deserve better than commercing with their brains for profit, and we as taxpayers deserve respect.
Psychotropics shouldn’t exist in the first place. Read Peter Breggin, M.D. statement:
“The brain-disabiling principle applies to all of the most potent psychiatric treatments - neuroleptics, antidepressants , lithium, electroshock, and psychosurgery.
The principle states that all of the major psychiatric treatments exert the primary or intended effect by disabiling normal brain function. Neuroleptic lobotomy, for example, is not a side effect, but the sought-after clinical effect.” Author - Toxic Psychiatry.
15mg of Zyprexa left my son with no measurable IQ that’s how dangerous neuroleptics are. Please don’t allow this catastrophe to continue. gloria, mother and guardian
Nurses for Human Rights » Blog Archive » Informed consent on antipsychotics passes in New Jersey…
[...] Pharmalot reports that New Jersey has passed an informed consent bill that requires any persons under 18 to [...]
DmitryS
People might be informed even on “not that convenient” matters.
YOU are NOT stupid.
YOU would not want to be ignorant.
YOU would not want to be lured and cheated easily.
Richard Burnell
Great news on the informing of parents.
Please look at some data out of Southampton University, UK,in September, 2007, regarding the research they have done with foods additives given to children under 10 years of age. The research concluded that food additives did cause adverse reactions, which resulted in poor behaviour, (which could then be diagnosed as ADHD)
My conclusion therefore, is that a reaction to a food additive is NOT A MENTAL DISORDER and does not require drugs as a solution.
So get your children tested, by a practitioner who has the necessary qualifications, to find out if your child’s behaviour is a reaciton to food additives. NOTE: A psychiatrist is not qualified to do this testing!!
Good Luck, Richard B
Delores Jankovich
It should be mandatory that informed consent be provided on all medications prescribed for children (or adults for that matter) whether they have a black-box warning or not.
It is the only way to protect children and provide safe care for them.
For parents and caretakers to be effective and responsible they must know the adverse effects and any benefits of a psychotropic. That way, they can make an informed choice and safeguard their children’s health.
Charles Benedetti
Parents are the primary guardians and providers for their children. Case closed .
Rev. Jay Clidtheroe
I am in favor of informed consent!
Ingrid Rogers
I am abosolutely in favor of informed consent!
Loretta Walsh
My child is not a child of the state or government, he is
mine I gave birth to him. How dare you decide what is
good for my child. I better have the consent.
Vernon Corban
When we lose our rights to be informed and given consent then we have become cattle or slaves and no longer is it the land of the free!
ps
For some reason this page would not let me vote, but you have to know I am against government or industry doing things without proper and informed consent!
mrallen1971
This is great news! I hope that this legislation passes and then the idea spreads to all other states. Informed consent will give good parents the ability to decide for themselves, truthfully, what is best for their children. And that’s the way it should be. As a side thought I wonder if the 3 who voted against have any ties to big pharma?
Laurie
Two of the three who voted against is were doctors.