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SB 335

Prohibits the provision of electroconvulsive therapy to a minor. (BDR 54-59)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Krasner

Nevada bill would ban electroconvulsive therapy for minors, restricting a controversial psychiatric treatment with contested safety and efficacy profiles in adolescents.

(Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed.)
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Bill Summary · SB 335

Legislative bill overview

SB 335 would prohibit the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on minors in Nevada. The bill was introduced by Senator Lisa Krasner but did not advance past the printer stage, with no further action allowed as of April 12, 2025.

Why is this important

ECT is a psychiatric treatment where electrical currents are applied to the brain to trigger seizures, used primarily for severe depression and certain mental health conditions. The debate centers on whether ECT is safe and appropriate for developing brains, with implications for treatment access for adolescents with severe treatment-resistant mental illness.

Potential points of contention

  • Medical efficacy vs. safety concerns: Proponents argue ECT can be life-saving for suicidal minors with treatment-resistant depression; opponents cite risks of memory loss and cognitive effects on developing brains
  • Parental rights and medical autonomy: Whether parents should retain decision-making authority for medical interventions or if age-based prohibitions override parental consent
  • Access to mental health treatment: Restricting ECT may limit options for severely ill adolescents, or conversely, prevent potentially harmful procedures depending on one's assessment of risk-benefit

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

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