ArmInfo. In Armenia, a person who has reached the age of 18 will have the right to consent to or refuse psychiatric care.
The amendments to the law "On the Rights of Children" were approved at the sitting of the RA National Assembly on September 17 in the first reading. Presenting the bill, Deputy Minister of Health of Armenia Anahit Avanesyan noted that the need for amendments is due to the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia dated January 30, 2020, which found that part 2 of Art. 32 laws. By the decision of the Constitutional Court, this provision contradicts the child's right to express his or her point of view enshrined in the Constitution. The decision notes that Part 2 of Art. 32 of the law does not stipulate the obligatory consent of the child to hospitalization in a psychiatric clinic in cases where the age and state of health of the child allow it.
The bill establishes the right of persons over 16 years of age to consent or refuse to provide psychiatric care if, according to doctors, they are able to realize the potential consequences of not having or having treatment. Another condition is that the above information is provided to the child if, according to doctors, it will not harm him, and possibly even facilitate the course of treatment. In the absence of the above conditions, treatment will be carried out on the basis of a court decision. Treatment of persons under the age of 16 will be carried out on the basis of the written consent of legal representatives, with the exception of cases provided for by law.