Electroconvulsive therapy, children and adolescents: the power to stop

The administration of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to children and adolescents remains an unresolved area of clinical debate for nurses. Thus, some nurses have refused to participate in the treatment of minors with ECT, invoking codes of conduct to justify their actions. Other nurses have supported the use of ECT with children and adolescents, via provision of technical assistance to medical colleagues. A cross-national comparison of ethical codes of conduct has confirmed that nurses should take decisive action in the clinical arena when the needs or rights of vulnerable minors are compromised. The provision of clinical guidelines is suggested as one method to enshrine the rights of at-risk children and adolescents.