Schizophrenia, human rights and access to health care: A systematic search and review of judgements by the European Court of Human Rights.
Int J Soc Psychiatry
; 67(2): 168-174, 2021 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32674633
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Persons with schizophrenia are vulnerable regarding human rights violations.AIMS:
The aim of this research is to systematically analyse judgements by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) involving persons with schizophrenia.METHODS:
A systematic search of judgements by the ECtHR, using the search term 'schizophrenia'. Descriptive statistics and a qualitative thematic analysis were performed.RESULTS:
A total of n = 105 judgements were included, originating in n = 29 countries. Article 5 (Right to liberty and security) of the European Convention on Human Rights was ruled by the ECtHR to have been violated in 45.7% of judgements, Article 3 (Prohibition of torture) in 20.0% and Article 8 (Right to respect for private and family life) in 19.0%. Relevant themes were inadequate access to mental health care, especially in prisons and during police operations, involuntary confinement, detention and ill-treatment as a risk factor for psychosis, the right to family life versus the rights of others, extradition/expulsion and protection of other persons' human rights against violent behaviour by persons with schizophrenia.DISCUSSION:
Persons with schizophrenia often do not receive adequate treatment and are especially vulnerable in prisons, where ill-treatment can be an additional risk factor. They can have both offender and victim status. The judgements suggest that the ECtHR has a balanced view on involuntary confinement. National legislation and internal hospital guidelines should be written in a manner to help minimise human rights violations against persons with schizophrenia.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Esquizofrenia
/
Tortura
/
Criminosos
Tipo de estudo:
Guideline
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article