Beyond moral claims: A human rights approach in mental health

Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics

Volumn 10, Issue 3, 2001, Pages 264-274

  Gostin, Lawrence O ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; BIOETHICS; CIVIL RIGHTS; FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY; HEALTH CARE POLICY; HUMAN; HUMAN RIGHTS; INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION; LEGAL ASPECT; MENTAL DISEASE; MENTAL HEALTH; MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIES; MENTAL PATIENT; SOCIAL BEHAVIOR; SOCIAL WELFARE; SOCIOECONOMICS;

MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIES;

BIOETHICS; CIVIL RIGHTS; COMMITMENT OF MENTALLY ILL; HEALTH POLICY; HUMAN RIGHTS; HUMANS; INTERNATIONALITY; MENTAL DISORDERS; MENTAL HEALTH; MENTALLY DISABLED PERSONS; SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY; SOCIAL WELFARE; SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS;

EID: 0035354562     PISSN: 09631801     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S0963180101003061     Document Type: Review

References (55)

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4. This section is based on a previous article. Mann JM, Gostin L, Gruskin S, Brennan T, Lazzarini Z, Fineberg HV. Health and human rights. Journal of Health and Human Rights 1994;1:7 (proposing three linkages between public health and human rights).
5. Goldfeld AE, Mollica RF, Pesavento BH, Faraone SV. The physical and psychological sequelae of torture, symptomotology, and diagnosis. JAMA 1988;259:2725-30.
6. See Boulesbaa A. The U.N. Convention on Torture and the Prospects for Enforcement. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1999:18-9, 36-7; Askin KD. War Crimes Against Women: Prosecution in International War Crimes Tribunals. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers 1997:264-76.
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10. Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental Health Care, G.A. Res. 119, U.N. GAOR, 46th sess., Supp. no. 49, Annex, at 188-92, U.N. Doc. A/46/49 (1991).
11. Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, G.A. Res. 2856, U.N. GAOR, 26th sess., Supp. no. 29, at 99, U.N. Doc. A/8429 (1971). See Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, G.A. Res. 3447, U.N. GAOR, 30th sess., Supp. no. 34, at 92, U.N. Doc. A/10034 (1975). See, generally, Herr SS. Rights of disabled persons: international principles and American experiences. Columbia Human Rights Law Review 1980;12:1.
12. Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, G.A. Res. 2856, U.N. GAOR, 26th sess., Supp. no. 29, at 99, U.N. Doc. A/8429 (1971). See Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, G.A. Res. 3447, U.N. GAOR, 30th sess., Supp. no. 34, at 92, U.N. Doc. A/10034 (1975). See, generally, Herr SS. Rights of disabled persons: international principles and American experiences. Columbia Human Rights Law Review 1980;12:1.
13. Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, G.A. Res. 2856, U.N. GAOR, 26th sess., Supp. no. 29, at 99, U.N. Doc. A/8429 (1971). See Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, G.A. Res. 3447, U.N. GAOR, 30th sess., Supp. no. 34, at 92, U.N. Doc. A/10034 (1975). See, generally, Herr SS. Rights of disabled persons: international principles and American experiences. Columbia Human Rights Law Review 1980;12:1.
14. See, for example, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed 4 November 1950, entered into force 3 September 1953, 213 UNTS 221, ETS 5; American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San Jose), signed 22 November 1969, entered into force 18 July 1978, OASTS 36, O.A.S. Off. Rec. OEA/Ser.L/V/II.23, Doc. 21, Rev. 6 (1979), reprinted in 9 ILM 673 (1970); African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adopted 17 June 1981, entered into force 21 October 1986, O.A.U. Doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 Rev. 5, reprinted in 21 ILM 58 (1982).
15. See, for example, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed 4 November 1950, entered into force 3 September 1953, 213 UNTS 221, ETS 5; American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San Jose), signed 22 November 1969, entered into force 18 July 1978, OASTS 36, O.A.S. Off. Rec. OEA/Ser.L/V/II.23, Doc. 21, Rev. 6 (1979), reprinted in 9 ILM 673 (1970); African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adopted 17 June 1981, entered into force 21 October 1986, O.A.U. Doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 Rev. 5, reprinted in 21 ILM 58 (1982).
16. See, for example, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed 4 November 1950, entered into force 3 September 1953, 213 UNTS 221, ETS 5; American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San Jose), signed 22 November 1969, entered into force 18 July 1978, OASTS 36, O.A.S. Off. Rec. OEA/Ser.L/V/II.23, Doc. 21, Rev. 6 (1979), reprinted in 9 ILM 673 (1970); African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adopted 17 June 1981, entered into force 21 October 1986, O.A.U. Doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 Rev. 5, reprinted in 21 ILM 58 (1982).
17. See, for example, Wachenfeld MG. The Human Rights of the Mentally Ill in Europe. Copenhagen: The Danish Center for Human Rights, 1992; Fennell P. The third way in mental health policy. Journal of Law and Society 1999;26:103-23; Thorold O. The implications of the European Convention on Human Rights for United Kingdom mental health legislation. European Human Rights Law Reporter 1996;6:619-36; Hewitt D. Mental health law. In: Baker C, ed. Human Rights Act 1998: A Practitioner's Guide. London: Sweet & Maxwell, 1998:311-40; Harding TW. The application of the European Convention of Human Rights to the field of psychiatry. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 1989;12:245.
18. See, for example, Wachenfeld MG. The Human Rights of the Mentally Ill in Europe. Copenhagen: The Danish Center for Human Rights, 1992; Fennell P. The third way in mental health policy. Journal of Law and Society 1999;26:103-23; Thorold O. The implications of the European Convention on Human Rights for United Kingdom mental health legislation. European Human Rights Law Reporter 1996;6:619-36; Hewitt D. Mental health law. In: Baker C, ed. Human Rights Act 1998: A Practitioner's Guide. London: Sweet & Maxwell, 1998:311-40; Harding TW. The application of the European Convention of Human Rights to the field of psychiatry. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 1989;12:245.
19. See, for example, Wachenfeld MG. The Human Rights of the Mentally Ill in Europe. Copenhagen: The Danish Center for Human Rights, 1992; Fennell P. The third way in mental health policy. Journal of Law and Society 1999;26:103-23; Thorold O. The implications of the European Convention on Human Rights for United Kingdom mental health legislation. European Human Rights Law Reporter 1996;6:619-36; Hewitt D. Mental health law. In: Baker C, ed. Human Rights Act 1998: A Practitioner's Guide. London: Sweet & Maxwell, 1998:311-40; Harding TW. The application of the European Convention of Human Rights to the field of psychiatry. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 1989;12:245.
20. See, for example, Wachenfeld MG. The Human Rights of the Mentally Ill in Europe. Copenhagen: The Danish Center for Human Rights, 1992; Fennell P. The third way in mental health policy. Journal of Law and Society 1999;26:103-23; Thorold O. The implications of the European Convention on Human Rights for United Kingdom mental health legislation. European Human Rights Law Reporter 1996;6:619-36; Hewitt D. Mental health law. In: Baker C, ed. Human Rights Act 1998: A Practitioner's Guide. London: Sweet & Maxwell, 1998:311-40; Harding TW. The application of the European Convention of Human Rights to the field of psychiatry. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 1989;12:245.
21. See, for example, Wachenfeld MG. The Human Rights of the Mentally Ill in Europe. Copenhagen: The Danish Center for Human Rights, 1992; Fennell P. The third way in mental health policy. Journal of Law and Society 1999;26:103-23; Thorold O. The implications of the European Convention on Human Rights for United Kingdom mental health legislation. European Human Rights Law Reporter 1996;6:619-36; Hewitt D. Mental health law. In: Baker C, ed. Human Rights Act 1998: A Practitioner's Guide. London: Sweet & Maxwell, 1998:311-40; Harding TW. The application of the European Convention of Human Rights to the field of psychiatry. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 1989;12:245.
22. In some human rights documents such as the European Convention of Human Rights, persons with mental disabilities are actually grouped together with other individuals who are marginalized in society and subject to confinement without a criminal conviction. Article 5(1)(e) lists the groups that may be justifiably deprived of their liberty: "persons of unsound mind, alcoholics or drug addicts, or vagrants."
23. G.A. Res. 119, U.N. GAOR, 46th sess., Supp. no. 49, Annex, at 188-92, U.N. Doc. A/46/49 (1991). For an authoritative account of the MI Principles, see Rosenthal E, Rubenstein LS. International human rights advocacy under the "Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness." International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 1993;16:257-99.
24. Van der Leer v. the Netherlands, judgment of 21 February 1990, 170 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser. A), para. 21-4, 12 E.H.R.R. 567 (1990).
25. X v. United Kingdom, judgment of 17 November 1981, 46 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser. A), para. 40.
26. E. v. Norway, judgment on 29 August 1990, 181 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser. A), para. 63-7 (1990).
27. Luberti v. Italy, judgment of 23 February 1984, 75 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser. A).
28. Gostin L. Human rights in mental health: a proposal for five international standards based on the Japanese experience. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 1987;10:583.
29. United Nations Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Art. 1, G.A. Res. 3452, U.N. GAOR, 30th sess., Supp. no. 34, at 91, U.N. Doc. A/10034 (1975); Ireland v. United Kingdom, 25 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser. A), para. 66-7 (1978).
30. See note 19, Ireland v. United Kingdom; United Nations Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons Under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, G.A. Res. 173, U. N. GAOR, 43rd sess., Supp. no. 49, at 297, U.N. Doc. A/43/49 (1988).
31. Herczegfalvy v. Austria, judgment of 24 September 1992, 244 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser. A), para. 82, 15 E.H.R.R. 437(1993).
32. See note 21, Herczegfalvy v. Austria.
33. Hilton v. United Kingdom, App. no. 5613/72, 3 E.H.R.R. 104, 126 (Eur. Comm'n H.R. 1978) (inmate in Liverpool prison came to feel "he was like an animal, to such an extent that he would roll in his own excrement").
34. App. no. 6870/75, Second Partial Decision of the Commission as to Admissibility, 10 Dec. & Rep. 37 (Eur. Comm'n H.R. 1977). See also Gostin L. Observation on the merits of the Application no. 6780/75 under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. MIND 1978.
35. Aerts v. Belgium, 61/1997/845/1051 (July 30, 1998).
36. See note 25, Aerts, para. 46.
37. The United States Supreme Court, for example, has found that persons with mental illness who are not dangerous cannot be detained if they are capable of surviving safely in freedom by themselves or with the help of willing and responsible family members or friends. O'Connor v. Donaldson, 422 U.S. 563 (1975).
38. Golder v. United Kingdom, judgment of 21 February 1975, 18 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser. A), para. 37, 1 E.H.R.R. 524 (1975).
39. Winterwerp v. the Netherlands, judgment of 27 November 1981, 47 Eur. Ct. H.R.(ser. A), 2 E.H.R.R. 387 (1979), para. 75.
40. See note 29, Winterwerp v. the Netherlands 1979.
41. Matter v. Slovakia, App. no. 31534/96, judgment of 5 July 1999, Eur. Ct. H.R., para. 51.
42. Bock v. Germany, judgment of 21 February 1989, 150 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser. A), 12 E.H.R.R. 247 (1990).
43. B v. United Kingdom, judgment of 8 July 1987, 121 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser. A), 10 E.H.R.R. 87 (1988); H v. United Kingdom, judgment of 8 July 1987, 120 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser. A), 10 E.H.R.R. 95 (1988).
44. Ashingdane v. UK, 7 E.H.R.R. 528 (1985).
45. See note 21, Herczegfalvy v. Austria, para. 268 (the Court also found a violation of the right to receive and impart information under Article 10).
46. Dudgeon v. United Kingdom, 4 AHR 1449.
47. Hamer v. United Kingdom, App. no. 7114/75, 24 Dec. and Rep. 5 (Eur. Comm'n H.R. 1981); Draper v. United Kingdom, App. no. 8186/78, 24 Dec. and Rep. 72 (Eur. Comm'n H.R. 1981).
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50. Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, World Conference on Human Rights, June 25, 1993.
51. Gostin LO. The ideology of entitlement. In: Bean P, ed. Mental Illness: Changes and Trends. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1985. See also Gostin LO. The mentally ill and the power of the state. In: Hoggart R, ed. Liberty and Legislation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1989; Gostin LO. Human rights in mental health. In: Roth M, Bluglass R, eds. Psychiatry, Human Rights, and the Law. London/New York: Cambridge University Press 1985:148.
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53. Gostin LO. The ideology of entitlement. In: Bean P, ed. Mental Illness: Changes and Trends. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1985. See also Gostin LO. The mentally ill and the power of the state. In: Hoggart R, ed. Liberty and Legislation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1989; Gostin LO. Human rights in mental health. In: Roth M, Bluglass R, eds. Psychiatry, Human Rights, and the Law. London/New York: Cambridge University Press 1985:148.
54. WHO's Declaration of Alma Ata in 1978 reaffirms that: health, which is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, is a fundamental human right and that the attainment of the highest possible level of health is a most important world-wide social goal whose realization requires the action of many other social and economic sectors in addition to the health sector.
55. Chapman A. Conceptualizing the right to health: a violations approach. Tennessee Law Review 1998;65:389.