Chemical restraint of patients ‘a worry’

PEOPLE are being “chemically restrained” in psychiatric hospitals in order to control behaviour, despite there being no regulation around such treatment.

The issue was pointed out as a serious area of concern in a report by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Delegates from the committee visited Ireland last year and found a whole range of serious issues around violence and understaffing in Irish facilities.

“At present, such use of chemical restraint does not qualify as a means of restraint under Irish law and is therefore not subjected to oversight,” the report states.

“The CPT recommends that use of chemical restraint be governed by clear rules and subjected to the same oversight as regards other means of restraint.”

Head of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O’Gorman, said the fact that people with a mental illness remain in shabby hospital buildings unfit for human habitation is shocking and needs to stop.

He said there was “a series of unacceptable practices” in the way we treat people with mental health problems and who are in detention in one form or another.

“Of particular worry is what the CPT says about the poor provision of mental health services for young people in detention. The situation must be improved by the introduction of forensic mental health services that offers a full range of treatments, not just medication. There must be a working diversion system that means children with mental health problems who come into contact with the law are diverted to the mental health service.”

The report highlights a number of concerns with the Mental Health Act 2001.

These include the lack of protection for so-called ‘voluntary patients’, the need to amend the act in relation to the use of electro convulsive therapy and the lack of an independent capacity assessment.

John McCarthy, founder of campaigning organisation Mad Pride Ireland, asked when was the abuse of patients is psychiatric hospitals going to stop.

“We now have the European committee on torture stating we have abuse in psychiatric units — these are Irish hospitals appearing in a report on torture when will this stop?”