MENTAL HEALTH DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
by
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights

(page 1 of 3)

All great organisations set forth codes by which they align their purposes and activities. The Mental Health Declaration of Human Rights articulates the guiding principles of CCHR and the standards against which human rights violations within the field of mental health are relentlessly investigated and exposed.

A. No person shall be given psychiatric or psychological treatment against his or her will.

B. No person, man, woman or child, may be denied his or her personal liberty by reason of mental illness, so-called, without a fair jury trial by laymen and with proper legal representation.

C. No person shall be admitted to or held in a psychiatric institution, hospital or facility because of their religious, political or cultural beliefs and practices.

D. Any patient has:

1. The right to be treated with dignity as a human being;

2. The right to hospital amenities without distinction as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion, social origin or status by right of birth or property.

3. The right to have a thorough, physical and clinical examination by a competent registered general practitioner of one's choice, to ensure that one's mental condition is not caused by any undetected and untreated physical illness, injury or defect, and the right to seek a second medical opinion of one's choice.

4. The right to fully equipped medical facilities and appropriately trained medical staff in hospitals, so that competent physical, clinical examinations can be performed.

5. The right to choose the kind or type of therapy to be employed, and the right to discuss this with a general practitioner, healer or minister of one's choice.

page 2>