---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ajay Mehndiratta <[email protected]> Date: 21 April 2011 14:31 Subject: News Item On Draft Amendments for MHA
*Psychologists, nurses can admit mentally ill patients Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service * *THE DRAFT BILL SAYS* A minor can be given admission to a mental health facility if two psychiatrists or one psychiatrist and one mental health professional (clinical psychologists, social workers or psychiatric nurses) have independently examined the minor and both concluded that the admission is needed. *EXPERTS’ TAKE* Quality should be the supreme and diagnosis and admission of patients should be done only under the supervision of a trained professional - a medical officer or a psychiatrist. New Delhi, April 20 If the government’s new mental health draft Bill becomes a reality, medical officers and psychiatrists would lose the exclusive authority to examine patients in need of mental care. Any mental health professional, whether or not he is a trained doctor, would be allowed to examine, diagnose and admit such patients. No wonder, the proposal has raised a storm, with medical practitioners questioning the validity of permitting untrained people to examine and diagnose patients in need of specialised medical treatment and care. The draft Bill, proposes an altogether new category of mental health professionals (absent from the old Act of 1987) and includes therein psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers and psychiatric nurses. Questions are being raised on bracketing psychiatrists along side categories such as clinical psychologists and psychiatric social workers. Strangely, the draft Bill defines a clinical psychologist and a psychiatric social worker as anyone with an MA degree in the courses from a UGC recognised university. No M Phil or PhD is mandated in contrast to the past practice when a recognised clinical psychologist would need to have an MA in Psychology and a PhD or M Phil in clinical psychology, the specialised branch. According to acclaimed psychiatrist Dr Rajesh Sagar, “Quality should be the supreme and diagnosis and admission of patients should be done only under the supervision of a trained professional - a medical officer or a psychiatrist.” Section 45 of the draft Bill on the admission of minor mentally ill patients says: “A minor can be given admission to a mental health facility if two psychiatrists or one psychiatrist and one mental health professional (clinical psychologists, social workers or psychiatric nurses) have independently examined the minor and both concluded that the admission is needed.” Rules have also been relaxed for admission and treatment of persons with mental illness with high support needs. The relevant section says, “Any person wanting supported admission can be granted so if he has been examined by one psychiatrist and a mental health professional and both concluded that admission is necessary.” “This is like allowing a paediatric nurse to examine children for acute medical conditions. In the earlier Act, only medical officers were allowed to examine, diagnose and admit mentally ill patients. That provision should continue,” Dr Suman Sinha, consultant, Mental Health, Ministry of Health, said. The Act is being revised to make it compliant with the United Nations Convention on the “Rights of Persons with Disability”. [image: Top] <http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110421/nation.htm#top> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
