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HB 6167

AN ACT REQUIRING THE STAY OF EXECUTION OF A PROBATE COURT ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION OF SHOCK THERAPY.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Roland Lemar

Connecticut bill requiring automatic stay of probate court orders authorizing electroconvulsive therapy to allow legal challenge time before treatment administration.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Judiciary
#executions(law) #probatecourt #shocktherapy
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Bill Summary · HB 6167

Legislative bill overview

HB 6167 would require Connecticut probate courts to automatically stay (pause) the execution of any order authorizing the administration of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT, commonly called shock therapy) pending appeal or further judicial review. This creates a mandatory hold on ECT treatment orders that would otherwise take effect immediately.

Why is this important

ECT remains a controversial psychiatric treatment with significant ethical implications. This bill addresses concerns that individuals or their advocates may challenge such orders but lack practical time to pursue appeals before treatment occurs. The stay requirement ensures due process protections by preventing irreversible treatment administration during legal proceedings.

Potential points of contention

  • Medical necessity vs. legal delay: Medical professionals argue that staying ECT orders could harm patients in acute psychiatric crises who may benefit from immediate treatment; opponents contend the delay protects vulnerable individuals from potentially harmful procedures.
  • Scope of "shock therapy" definition: The bill's language may be ambiguous about which psychiatric interventions qualify, potentially affecting anesthesia-assisted treatments that practitioners distinguish from historical practices.
  • Probate court authority: Questions exist about whether probate courts—traditionally focused on estates and guardianships—are the appropriate venue for such medical decisions, and whether stays should apply uniformly or case-by-case.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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