The nation's first regional law on mental health will be issued by the end of this year in Shanghai, aimed at protecting patients' rights and improving residents' mental health.
On Monday, more than 30 members of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai People's Congress visited the Shanghai Mental Health Institute for a spot check of the draft law, completed in March last year.
According to the city's Health Bureau, there are 160,000 victims of mental diseases in Shanghai.
Another 600,000 people suffer from other kinds of psychological disorders, covering 5 percent of the city's population.
"With the rapid development of society and increasing competition, more people are likely to encounter mental problems. In fact, mental disease ranks as the No. 1 economic burden on societies across the world," said Chen Tiedi, director of the Standing Committee.
"Hence it is vital to draft a legislation to ensure patients' rights and maintain social stability," she added.
The city began drawing up the law in 1997, and presently it is a subject of various researches and probes.
Officials said the Standing Committee will discuss the draft at its regular meeting next month and plans to unveil it by the end of the year, which has been notified as the Year of Mental Health by the World Health Organization.
The draft stresses the patients' human rights and dignity, claiming the victims have a right to receive mental health service.
The regulation consists of seven sections and 55 items, covering patients' rights; the responsibilities of related departments and the family; medical facilities and doctor's qualifications; the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental diseases; and rehabilitation of patients.
"Some centers in Shanghai have been found wanting in their treatment of people suffering from mental problems. On the other hand, the social environment is also not conducive for the victims, who face many obstacles in receiving treatment and obtaining education or employment after recovery," said Chen Jianping, deputy director of the Health Bureau.
The draft proclaims that patients have the right to know the whole process and the result of the diagnosis and treatment. And they can decide which treatment they want.
"Most importantly, the victims will have the right to keep the nature of their ailment private," said Chen.
It also states that schools and enterprises should not deprive them of their right to education and employment after they have recovered.
(eastday.com October 30, 2001)
