Human rights of persons with mental disability: from discourse to reality

Abstract

Since 1989, the major professional organization of psychiatrists has expressed concern for the human rights of people with mental disorders: “Involuntary intervention is a great infringement of the human rights and the fundamental freedom of a patient. Therefore, specific, and carefully defined criteria and safeguards are needed for such intervention. Hospitalization or treatment against the will of a patient should not be conducted unless the patient suffers from serious mental illness. Involuntary intervention must be conducted in accordance with the least restrictive principle.

Keywords:

• UN Convention
• human rights violations
• mental hospitals
• coercion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).