MA H1859

Parents or legal guardians cannot be charged with child abuse or neglect for medical care decisions when they have sought care from a licensed provider, received a diagnosis, and are following the prescribed treatment plan

Mandatory reporters are prohibited from filing abuse or neglect reports based solely on a parent's decision to follow one licensed provider's treatment recommendations

Parents have the right to choose one licensed provider's treatment plan over another's conflicting recommendation when the condition is not immediately life-threatening

In life-threatening situations, parental decisions to follow a licensed provider's treatment can only be overridden with clear and convincing evidence to the contrary

Adds new Section 51I to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 119 (child welfare statute)