New mental health law in China expands personal liberty, just as U.S. seeks to squash it

Wednesday, May 01, 2013 by: Mike Bundrant
Tags: China, mental health, personal freedom

(NaturalNews) A new mental health law that takes effect in China on May 1, 2013 grants unprecedented patient rights and personal liberties. Meanwhile, back in the USSA, those very same rights are being eliminated. Go figure.

Under the new Chinese law, which has been debated and revised since 1985, mental health treatment has been deemed voluntary in the vast majority of cases. This is sure to come as a relief to a multitude of unfortunate souls who have been incarcerated and drugged against their will in psychiatric hospital dungeons.

The new law also strictly limits the use of restraints and isolation in hospital settings and makes it illegal to require patients to participate in labor or to limit their right to communicate with the outside.

It looks like the Chinese government is waking up and asking families and communities to step up their responsibilities, as most of the involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations have come by way of family members who commit patients against their will.

Before you get too excited, you should understand that China hasn't exactly become Libertarian in its mental health policy

They have only backed off their level of control to that of, say, Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County operates under Laura's Law, which states that if a mental health authority deems you a "danger to yourself or others" you can be locked up a drugged against your will.

"Danger" is defined in such a way that virtually anyone can qualify.

In fact, if you read the average state's criteria for forced psychiatric "treatment," you'll soon discover that almost anyone can meet the criteria. Have you been angry in the last few months? You qualify. Read the fine print.

Worse, if you study the up and coming psychiatric bible, the DSM-5, you'll soon discover that anyone and everyone with average human emotions can be diagnosed as mentally ill. I know this, as I have done my share of diagnosing under the supervision of a psychiatrist. We all qualify for the label and the billing code, trust me!

Another significant difference between the new Chinese law and the law in most states in America is that China has no policy for involuntary outpatient treatment. In other words, in China they won't force you to take drugs against your will in your own home. Over here in America, we do this to people on a regular basis.

Yeah, but the authorities aren't going to abuse truly innocent and harmless people...

Right. Authorities don't abuse power, do they? Forced drugging and electro-shock treatment of innocent and harmless people is a daily occurrence in America today. It isn't some far-fetched scenario that only happens in extreme cases. It didn't only happen in the olden days. It is happening in your town, right now.

In all of this please remember: the "mentally ill" are no more dangerous than the average person. In fact, they stand a much greater chance of being the victim of abuse. Read the facts.

About the author:
Watch the free video The AHA! Process: An End to Self-Sabotage and discover the lost keys to personal transformation and emotional well-being that have been suppressed by mainstream mental health for decades.

The information in this video has been called the missing link in mental health and personal development. In a world full of shallow, quick-fix techniques, second rate psychology and pharmaceutical takeovers, real solutions have become nearly impossible to find. Click here to watch the presentation that will turn your world upside down.

Mike Bundrant is co-founder of the iNLP Center and host of Mental Health Exposed, a Natural News Radio program.

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