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6th March 1994
Theme Committee 4: Subsection 3 - HUMAN DIGNITY
As a
state-employed psychiatrist, I bring to yourattention the plight of
institutionalised chronic psychiatric patients, held in terms of sections
19 and 28 of the Mental Health Act (18, 1973).
- These
people are detained involuntarily and indefinitely.
- Their
well-being depends entirely on the beneficence of the hospital
staff.
- The
Health Budget cuts of the past 5 years have resulted
in
steady deterioration in their quality of life with respect
to:
* diet (R5 per day for 3 meals at ValPtenberg, in March 1995)
* nurse:patient ratio
* communication (lack of interpreters)
* conditions in the wards (sexual assault and rape)
I propose that the
human dignity of this voiceless group be protected by the new
constitution in the following way:
1. A minimum nurse:patient
ratio for chronic patients be defined by the Minister of
Health and protected by the constitution.
- An
ombudsman, not employed by the department of health, be charged with
inspecting psychiatric hospitals to ensure that basic human rights are
not
being violated.
- Access
to said ombudsman and Pro Deo legal counsel be provided in cases of
suspected human rights abuses.
I would like to emphasise that
the people to which I am referring are "wards of the state". The state,
therefore, has a moral obligation
to ensure that their rights are protected
in the constitution.
Dr. Greg McCarthy M.B.B.Ch.
F.F. Psych (S.A.)
Community
Psychiatrist, Valkenberg Hospital
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