California Health and Safety Code § 1599.15

(a) As used in this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) “Informed consent” means the voluntary agreement of a resident or a resident’s representative to accept a treatment or procedure after receiving information in accordance with subdivisions (b) to (e), inclusive, of this section, subdivision (j) of Section 1599.1, and in accordance with Section 1418.8, if applicable. (2) “Psychotherapeutic drug” means a drug to control behavior or to treat thought disorder processes, excluding antidepressants. (3) “Representative” means an individual who has authority to act on behalf of the resident, including, but not limited to, a conservator, guardian, person authorized as agent in the resident’s valid advance health care directive, the resident’s spouse, registered domestic partner, or family member, a person designated by the resident, or other legally designated individual. (4) “Resident” means a person who is receiving care at a skilled nursing facility or an intermediate care facility, as those facilities are defined in Section 1250. (b) (1) Prior to prescribing a psychotherapeutic drug for a resident, the prescriber shall personally examine and obtain the informed written consent of the resident or the resident’s representative. (2) The prescriber shall communicate, and the written consent form shall contain, in a language the resident understands, the information a reasonable person in the resident’s condition and circumstances would consider material to a decision to accept or refuse the drug. However, if written translation services are not timely available, the written consent form may be provided in English with oral interpretation in a language that the resident understands. If the resident is hearing impaired or vision impaired, the material information and written consent form shall be provided in an accessible format. (3) The form shall be signed by the resident or the resident’s representative. The form shall also be signed by a health care professional who declares the resident or resident representative has been provided the material information. If the signature of the resident or resident’s representative cannot be obtained, a licensed nurse shall sign the form and verify that they confirmed informed consent with the resident or resident’s representative and state the name of the person with whom they verified informed consent and the date. Copies of the signed consent form shall be given to the resident and their representative. (4) Within six months after the consent form is signed, and every six months thereafter during which the resident receives a psychotherapeutic drug, the facility shall provide a written notice to the resident and, if applicable, the resident’s representative, of any recommended dosage adjustments and the resident’s right to revoke consent and to receive gradual dose reductions and behavioral interventions in an effort to discontinue the psychotherapeutic drug. (5) For purposes of obtaining informed written consent pursuant to this subdivision, the use of remote technology, including, but not limited to, telehealth, to allow a prescriber to examine and obtain informed written consent, and for the prescriber, the resident or the resident’s representative to use electronic signatures, shall be permitted. (c) In addition to the information required by subdivision (j) of Section 1599.1, the prescriber shall provide the following information material to an informed consent decision concerning the administration of a psychotherapeutic drug: (1) Possible nonpharmacologic approaches that could address the resident’s needs. (2) Whether the drug has a current boxed warning label along with a summary of, and information about how to find, the contraindications, warnings, and precautions required by the United States Food and Drug Administration. (3) Whether a proposed drug is being prescribed for a purpose that has or has not been approved by the 

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