The apex body of mental health care professionals in India consisting of over 5,000 members, Indian Psychiatrist Society (IPS), is opposing the proposed enactment of Mental Health Care Bill 2013 in the present form. The society members on Wednesday in Hyderabad criticised successive governments who, according to them, had not bothered to consult IPS while coming with the provisions of the Bill.
“The Bill was drafted without even considering our viewpoint. It has a provision of nominated representative that makes a third party, which could be an organisation or an outsider in charge of persons suffering from mental illness. This would lead to a direct tussle between immediate family members and the nominated representative who may not be a blood relation of persons suffering from mental illness,” president, IPS, Dr. T. V. Asokan said.
The society, which is hosting the 67{+t}{+h}annual conference starting from Thursday, said that nominated representatives could misuse the Bill provisions for financial gains like usurping the property or deriving benefits that were meant for persons with mental illness. “Close relatives are always the legal guardians and they are best suited to take the right decisions for patients. When there are family members, where is the need to appoint a third party as a nominated representative?” Dr. Asokan asked. IPS members pointed out that they have already made their reservations clear to top health authorities who authored the bill in New Delhi. According to society members, the mental health care bill has sought to redefine the definition of a mental health care worker.
The society members said that they have already represented their reservations to a central parliamentary committee on the Mental Health Care Bill. “We are hoping that some points in the Bill are changed for the sake of persons with mental illness,” Dr. Asokan added.
