Involving the child:
- Helps children feel more in control and builds trust.
- May help make the treatment more successful.
- Helps children learn to make medical decisions as adults.
Children should have more input into decisions about taking psychotropic medications as they get older. However, the medical consenter should always make the final decision based on what is best for the child.
Note: The court may allow 16 or 17 year old youth to consent to some or all of his or her own medical care.
