This bill amends various sections of Oklahoma law related to health care, specifically focusing on the physician- and psychotherapist-patient privilege, the rights of parents and legal guardians concerning minors, and the conditions under which minors can consent to health services. Notably, it establishes that minors under eighteen years of age do not have the privilege to refuse disclosure of confidential communications to their parents or legal guardians. Additionally, it grants parents or legal guardians the right to be present during consultations with health professionals and to access their minor child's health records, except in cases where there are allegations of parental abuse or neglect.
The bill also modifies the conditions under which licensed counselors and behavioral practitioners can disclose information about clients under eighteen, requiring parental consent in most cases. It further clarifies the circumstances under which minors can consent to their own health services, such as in cases of pregnancy or abuse, while ensuring that health professionals are not liable for providing services based on a minor's misrepresentation of their eligibility for self-consent. The Attorney General is authorized to take action against violations of these provisions, with the bill waiving certain immunities to facilitate legal recourse. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.