HB 6837, An Act Extending The Authorization Of Shock Therapy By A Patient’s Written Consent Or Probate Court Order

TESTIMONY OF CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE

Monday, February 3, 2025

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning HB 6837, An Act Extending The Authorization Of Shock Therapy By A Patient’s Written Consent Or Probate Court Order. CHA supports the bill.

Connecticut hospitals and health systems care for patients, strengthen the state’s economy, and support vulnerable communities across the state. Every day, they work to improve healthcare access, affordability, and health equity. Even as they face ongoing challenges, hospitals provide world-class care to everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of their ability to pay. Hospitals also support an exemplary workforce as the largest collective employer in the state, contribute significantly to the state’s economy, and invest in their communities addressing social drivers of health.

HB 6837 seeks to amend section 17a-543 to extend the authorization of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) by a patient’s written consent or probate court order to 90 days. The current statutory process governing these cases has not been changed since 2003 and is ripe for review and reconsideration. Unfortunately, experience shows that the current 45-day limit for this process may impede patient care and result in significant patient decompensation before a probate court can hear a matter.

CHA believes that the statutes should continue to provide for an appropriate and timely process to assess a patient’s capacity to consent to ECT and determine that there is no other less-intrusive beneficial treatment available to the patient, as required under current law. We believe that we share a common goal of implementing process improvements that will best accommodate a patient’s needs in a timely manner, based on current medical information, with sufficient protections to a patient’s rights. That process must not result in delays in obtaining beneficial treatment or impede a patient’s recovery and cause unnecessary harm to the patient and their loved ones.

CHA respectfully asks the committee to consider changing all statutory references to “shock therapy” to “electroconvulsive therapy” consistent with current usage and clinical practice. The term “shock therapy” is outmoded and derogatory. Modernizing the term will help reduce the stigmatization of this treatment modality that has been proven to be effective in reducing suffering and harm from the most serious forms of mental illness.

While we support the changes proposed in HB 6837, we also recommend that a working committee inclusive of all stakeholders should convene to develop an updated statutory framework that addresses all concerns. Consideration of the proper role of probate courts in the implementation of an improved statutory scheme is one of several issues that should be resolved in any discussions regarding this bill.

Finally, we ask the committee to include hospitals in these discussions to enable us to work together to achieve our common goal of serving the best interests of our patients.

Thank you for your consideration of our position. For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.