China moving to update mental health law

BEIJING, June 11 (UPI) -- China is considering a law that would ban compulsory mental health checkups, officials say.

Under the draft law published Friday on the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council's Web site, mental health examinations would only be done at the voluntary discretion of the patient or their guardian, the state news agency Xinhua reported.

The office is seeking the public's feedback on the proposed changes.

The draft law also would require civil affairs authorities to send homeless people suspected of having mental disorders to mental health institutions.

Patients with mental health issues would be discharged from hospitals whenever they desire, Xinhua said, although in the case of severely ill patients, their guardian would have to approve.

If a doctor opposes a patient's discharge, the physician would have to inform the patient or guardian, record the notification details, and provide technical advice if a patient or guardian insists on the release, the proposed law states.

The draft law lists mental health patients' rights, including the right to education, work, medical insurance, privacy and social assistance.

There are more than 100 million Chinese with mental illness, with 16 million of them considered severely ill, the country's Center for Disease Control and Prevention says.