The ethical issues of enforcing parents' participation in the psychiatric treatment of minors.

Currently, when parents do not comply with the recommended psychiatric treatment for their child through the Mental Health Act, the mental health practitioner and the statutory social worker are faced with unclear guidelines as to how best to respond. Under the Israeli Mental Health Act and the existing Youth Law, there are no effective means of enforcing parental involvement in the psychiatric treatment of "at risk" minors. Non-involvement may seriously compromise the assessment and treatment of these minors, resulting in ongoing risk of developmental damage. Proposed changes in the current Youth Law include ratifying means of enforcing parental involvement. Ethical issues regarding such a proposal are discussed using a case vignette. Clinical guidelines for parental participation in minors' psychiatric treatment are discussed.