Electro-convulsive therapy is used to treat mentally ill patients
Representational image (Image courtesy: http://www.nimh.nih.gov)
New Delhi: The pre-Independence direct electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) — generally known as electroshock — used to treat mentally ill patients, may soon be banned in India. In a bid to empower people suffering from mental illness and to protect their rights, a revised mental healthcare Bill is likely to be tabled in the forthcoming Monsoon Session.
With provisions of banning tonsuring of patients, the proposed Bill to protect the rights of persons with mental illness is with the ministry of law for final vetting. “We are likely to get the draft of the Bill this week from the law ministry, after which we will soon go to the Cabinet and table the proposed Bill in the upcoming Session,” a senior official in the health ministry disclosed.
The proposed Bill will allow the adults to make preferences on how they would want to be treated in case they suffer from mental illness. The Bill was first introduced in the Rajya Sabha by then health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Then it was sent to the parliamentary committee which recommended some amendments. Meanwhile, the Apex Court too came up with some recommendations, which have now been incorporated in the draft.
The new Bill seeks to decriminalise suicide and make access to affordable mental healthcare a right for all. “The newly proposed Bill is an effort to bring Indian law in alliance with the United Nations Convention for Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It will give more protection to mentally-challenged people and will be path-breaking for mental healthcare in India,” said IBHAS director Nimesh Desai.
People suffering from mental health attempting suicide would be treated as mentally ill and therefore the act will be exempted from the provisions of Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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