Legal Issues Surrounding Adolescent Suicidality (IN: Planning to Live: Evaluating and Treating Suicidal Teens in Community Settings, ed. by M J Rotheram-Borus)

This chapter introduces the practitioner to legal concepts needed when dealing with suicidal teens. The author discusses the counselor’s obligations vis-a-vis a suicidal minor client & makes some recommendations. He then provides information concerning the treatment of minors without parental consent. It is strongly recommended that an attorney be identified to respond to issues raised here & that a protocol to respond to issues of consent & confidentiality be established prior to a crisis.