HH The Emir passes new law to protect rights of people with mental illness
In another sign of progress, Qatar’s Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued a new law (No. 16 of 2016) on psychological health, aimed at protecting rights of people with mental disorders.
The new law stipulates that psychiatric patients can avail integrated therapeutic and community care services at hospitals specialising in psychiatry, psychiatric departments of hospitals and outpatient clinics, private clinics licensed to practise psychiatry and any other place that provides community care services, reported Qatar Tribune.
As per the new law, it is binding on medical facilities — hospitals specialising in psychiatry, psychiatric departments of hospitals and clinics, community care services — to inform the patient of his health condition.
The patient has to be informed of the diagnosis of his condition and treatment services available. The patient has the right to receive a full medical report on the mental condition and all other procedures and tests.
On the rights relating to the healthcare environment, the patient should receive the necessary medical care according to his condition and his individual rights should be respected.
The freedom of a patient with mental disorder may not be restricted and they should not be kept in isolation unless the doctor in charge decides so.
The patient has the right to accept or refuse to meet visitors and they should be protected from sexual, physical and psychological abuse and humiliating treatment. The patient should not be punished or threatened physically or morally.
With the approval of a psychiatric consultant, anyone can be admitted involuntarily to receive treatment after developing clear signs of suffering from a severe mental illness.
The involuntary admission period for treatment will be three months, which can be renewed for another similar period. People violating the law will be penalised heavily.
The law will become effective 60 days after being published in the Official Gazette.
