Mental health care rights of adolescents: what mental health nurses need to know.

Abstract

Adolescents have certain rights regarding mental health care. There is a need for healthcare professionals, including nurses, to become more aware and knowledgeable of these rights. This article reviews the medical/legal rights of adolescents and their parents, and presents a history of relevant changes that have occurred in the parent-child relationship. It discusses also current issues pertinent to the mental health care of adolescents and identifies researchable questions.