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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81231</law_id><section_number>16.1-337</section_number><catch_line>Inpatient treatment of minors; general applicability; disclosure of records</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-340</reference><reference>16.1-340.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="16.1">Courts Not of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="11">Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="16">Psychiatric Treatment of Minors Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">minor</span> may be admitted to a <span class="dictionary">mental health facility</span> for <span class="dictionary">inpatient treatment</span> only pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Parental admission of minors younger than 14 and nonobjecting minors 14 years of age or older" href="/16.1-338/">16.1-338</a>, <a class="law" title="Parental admission of an objecting minor 14 years of age or older" href="/16.1-339/">16.1-339</a>, or <a class="law" title="Involuntary temporary detention; issuance and execution of order" href="/16.1-340.1/">16.1-340.1</a> or in accordance with an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of involuntary commitment entered pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Involuntary commitment; petition; hearing scheduled; notice and appointment of counsel" href="/16.1-341/">16.1-341</a> through <a class="law" title="Involuntary commitment; criteria" href="/16.1-345/">16.1-345</a>. The provisions of Article 12 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective until July 1, 2026) Fingerprints and photographs of juveniles" href="/16.1-299/">16.1-299</a> et seq.) of Chapter 11 and &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Order of involuntary commitment or mandatory outpatient treatment forwarded to Central Criminal Records Exchange; certain voluntary admissions forwarded to Central Criminal Records Exchange; firearm background check" href="/16.1-337.1/">16.1-337.1</a> relating to the confidentiality of files, papers, and records shall apply to proceedings under this article. <a id="paragraph-291165" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-337/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any health care provider, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Health records privacy" href="/32.1-127.1_03/">32.1-127.1:03</a>, or other provider rendering services to a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> who is the subject of proceedings under this article, upon request, shall disclose to a <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span>, the juvenile <span class="dictionary">intake officer</span>, <span class="dictionary">the court</span>, the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s attorney, the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span>, the <span class="dictionary">qualified evaluator</span> performing the evaluation required under &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Parental admission of minors younger than 14 and nonobjecting minors 14 years of age or older" href="/16.1-338/">16.1-338</a>, <a class="law" title="Parental admission of an objecting minor 14 years of age or older" href="/16.1-339/">16.1-339</a>, and <a class="law" title="Involuntary commitment; clinical evaluation" href="/16.1-342/">16.1-342</a>, the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> or its designee performing the evaluation, preadmission screening, or monitoring duties under this article, or a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer any and all information that is necessary and appropriate to enable each of them to perform his duties under this article. These health care providers and other service providers shall disclose to one another health records and information where necessary to provide care and treatment to the person and to monitor that care and treatment. Health records disclosed to a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer shall be limited to information necessary to protect the officer, the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, or the public from physical injury or to address the health care needs of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>. Information disclosed to a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer shall not be used for any other purpose, disclosed to others, or retained.
			Any health care provider providing services to a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> who is the subject of proceedings under this article shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">parent</span> of information that is directly relevant to such individual&#x2019;s involvement with the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s health care, which may include the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s location and general condition, in accordance with subdivision D 34 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Health records privacy" href="/32.1-127.1_03/">32.1-127.1:03</a>, unless the provider has actual knowledge that the <span class="dictionary">parent</span> is currently prohibited by <span class="dictionary">court order</span> from contacting the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>. No health care provider shall be required to notify a person&#x2019;s family member or personal representative pursuant to this section if the health care provider has actual knowledge that such notice has been provided.
			Any health care provider disclosing records pursuant to this section shall be immune from civil liability for any harm resulting from the disclosure, including any liability under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1320d et seq.), as amended, unless the person or provider disclosing such records intended the harm or acted in bad faith. <a id="paragraph-291166" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-337/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any order entered where a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> is the subject of proceedings under this article shall provide for the disclosure of health records pursuant to subsection B. This subsection shall not preclude any other disclosures as required or permitted by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-291167" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-337/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1990, c. 975; 1992, c. 539; 2008, cc. 782, 850, 870; 2009, cc. 455, 555; 2010, cc. 778, 825; 2016, cc. 569, 693; 2018, c. 846.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
