Please support H.R. 4837, the Written Informed Consent Act, critical legislation to strengthen protections for veterans prescribed riskier medications. Currently, the VA’s VHA Directive 1005 (Informed Consent for Long-Term Opioid Therapy) requires written informed consent only for long-term opioid use. Under this bill, that directive would be expanded to also require written informed consent for the use of antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and narcotics. 

By supporting this bill, you can help ensure veterans are fully informed about the benefits, risks, and alternatives before being prescribed these powerful medications. It promotes patient autonomy, transparency, and safer prescribing practices in VA health care.