8-Jul-2013VISAKHAPATNAM: Soon electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) for psychiatric patients would be performed only under anaesthesia. Also, it would be mandatory for all general hospitals treating a patient for any ailment that subsequently develops into a mental problem, to register with mental health authorities before continuing with the treatment, informed Dr T V Asokan, vice-president of Indian Psychiatric Society on Sunday. Dr Asokan was speaking on forensic psychiatry at the Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, South Zone (IPS), being held in the city. He noted that the provision of advance directives would also come into being once the New Mental Health Care Bill 2012, (which has recently been cleared by the Union Cabinet), becomes an Act. He also stressed on the need for focusing on forensic psychiatry in criminal cases. "Courts can take a lenient view of a person if h e commits a crime without understanding its implications. Also, for being a witness or for other legal issues, 'testamentary capacity' of a person is checked, that is to see if he or she is of sound mind," said Dr Asokan. The provision of advance directives is being introduced under the new Mental Health Care Bill, under which a person can draw up a will or a give a directive on the future course of action on his or her personal or financial front, as a means to check any dubious accusations by others on the person's mental state of mind. A district cell would be formed and records would be with the district mental health authorities. This would help sort out legal complications and false allegations, informed Dr Asokan. However, the new bill has already triggered controversy among mental health experts. For instance conducting ECT under anaesthesia will escalate the cost of treatment. "Another problem is dearth of anaesthetists in the country. There are not enough anesthetists even in tertiary care hospitals to take care of trauma cases or conduct other operations. Now, having an anaesthetist for every clinic or small centre conducting the essential ECT on certain patients, would become problematic and affect the patient as the procedure may not be conducted till an anesthetist is present. ECT is very important to prevent suicides and other complications in certain mental patients," averred Dr N N Raju, organising chairman of the conference and medical superintendent of Government Hospital for Mental Care, Visakhapatnam. Further, all general hospitals need to be registered with mental health authorities if they are to treat any patient who subsequently develops any mental problem. "For instance, if a cancer or kidney patient becomes depressive or develops any other mental problem, they can be treated in the hospital only if it's registered or has the required permission to treat such patients. This will incr ease the stigma associated with mental ailments and hamper treatment," said Dr Raju. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-08/visakhapatnam/40442661_1_advance-directives-union-cabinet-indian-psychiatric-society -- -- 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 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
