Informed Consent Essay

When working with minors, informed consent is especially important. Client’s have a right to know what parents, probation officers, case managers or any other individuals involved in their case may be informed of. When a client arrives consent forms are completed with the parent or guardian present. With this case, informed consent was imperative due to the involvement of a parent as well as a probation officer. The client and their parent discussed what was appropriate to share, and the client needed to be informed of what the probation officer required. Including; authorization to communicate, clinical supervision agreement, activity consent form, consent to treatment and a client handbook acknowledgement. Also included in the consent forms is a release of information. This was utilized to discuss the probation officer having access to records and many treatment notes (Appendix A). Treatment notes are kept electronically. These treatment notes needed to be printed and physically handed to the probation

A plan is filled out and signed by the client, the family member responsible for the client, the therapist and the nurse (Appendix F). A client must remain sober on home passes and when they return, clients deemed “at risk of substance abuse” will have a urine analysis. In addition, clients will have belongings searched for contraband, such as alcohol or cigarettes (Appendix G). Johnny was also provided with a “readiness to change assessment at intake, midway through treatment and nearing discharge (Appendix H). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was also pertinent to this case due to the need for client confidentiality (Appendix I). Specific to this case, ARS 13-3415 regarding possession of drug paraphernalia was also relevant to do a criminal charge (Appendix J). A.R.S 13-1203 is also relevant in regards to Johnny’s charge of misdemeanor