On June 27, assigned by the Human Rights Defender, representatives of the Defender paid an unannounced visit to the National Institute for Mental Healthcare of RA Ministry of Healthcare. During their visit, the representatives observed different subdivisions, held private interviews with the patients, as well as paid attention to their documents.
During the visit, the representatives revealed that some patients receive stationary treatment without their consent and in some cases without the consent of a legal representative. It was also revealed that the issue of patient’s refusal of any medical service has never been discussed in a manner prescribed by the law and a committee of psychiatrists has not been invited to discuss the necessity of stationary health care.
In fact, a forced medical treatment is being provided to the patients, namely treatment without their informed consent and (or) respective act of the Court.
The issues of hospitalization of people with mental issues, as well as their informed consent has crucial importance. The individual should be given the opportunity to take a certain position in relation to each issue based on understandable explanations.
Based on the mentioned examination it was revealed that means for physical restrain (rubber belts and etc.) continued to be used contrary to the requirement of RA and international laws. Such kind of cruel treatment was performed publicly in shared rooms of the hospital.
During the interviews, information was disclosed that the patients were deprived of the opportunity to spend their time in open-air environment.
In one of the subdivisions, records of outdoor-leave were not kept and in other subdivisions the records are kept with shortcomings and inconsistency.
At the end of the visit, the violations were discussed with the administration of National Institute for Mental Healthcare. Based of the reported issue, the Human Rights Defender initiated a series of discussions. The necessary means will be put in action to solve the discussed issues as well as to eliminate rights violations.