Ministry of Health: Tighten management of subjects required to receive mental health treatment

On July 11, the Ministry of Health informed that the Minister of Health has just sent a document to the health sector of ministries and branches regarding strengthening management in the fields of forensic examination, forensic psychiatry and compulsory treatment of mental illness.

According to Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, in recent years, the work of forensic examination, forensic psychiatric examination, and compulsory medical treatment has been focused on, consolidated, improved, and developed; units have strived to overcome all difficulties to successfully complete assigned tasks; the quality of examination basically meets the requirements of the prosecution agency.

However, recently, there have been negative situations and serious violations of the law at the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry in Bien Hoa, and the Northern Mountainous Center for Forensic Psychiatry, causing outrage in public opinion.

The reason for the above situation is that some leaders and medical staff have not strictly implemented the provisions of the law, professional instructions, and directives of the Ministry of Health and other ministries and branches; some unit leaders and medical staff have not been exemplary, have not maintained their political stance, are easily bribed, are enticed to participate in criminal acts or assist bad guys in taking advantage of violations of the law.

To overcome the above shortcomings and limitations, ensure continued improvement of the effectiveness of judicial appraisal activities and timely prevent negative behaviors in handling work, the Ministry of Health requires heads of units to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement legal regulations, professional instructions, and directives of the Ministry of Health and other ministries and branches; maintain political will, and not let bad guys bribe or entice them into participating in criminal acts.

Relevant units shall strengthen supervision, direct professional work and coordinate with competent authorities to tighten management of subjects subject to compulsory mental health treatment and ensure objective and transparent assessment to meet the assessment needs of prosecution agencies, organizations and individuals.

Psychiatric hospitals and medical examination and treatment facilities with the scope of professional activities in the field of psychiatry must strictly implement professional regulations and regulations on issuing summaries of medical records and issuing health certificates (with content on mental status); do not allow subjects to take advantage of these documents to request the prosecution agencies to allow suspects and convicts to undergo psychiatric assessment in order to evade or reduce criminal responsibility when committing crimes./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/bo-y-te-siet-chat-viec-quan-ly-doi-tuong-bat-buoc-chua-benh-tam-than-post1049189.vnp