ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT REVISES LAW ON PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE

ARKA
May 19, 2009

YEREVAN, May 19. /ARKA/. Armenia’s National Assembly amended Tuesday
on final reading the RA Law on Psychiatric Service.

Though the lawmakers mainly edited the law, they are of major
significance, said RA Deputy Healthcare Minister Hayk Darbinyan.

The amended law provides for discharging individuals voluntarily
passing in-patient treatment. Patients can be discharged from
psychiatric hospitals if they do not expose society to danger. Or
else, curing specialists are allowed to send patients to compulsory
treatment.

The amendments also provide for protecting the rights of patients
and ensuring their safety. The patients have a right to subscribe to
medical magazines, be in correspondence with the outside world and
receive guests.

They can also send their complaints to the management of the medical
institution or to high-ranking officials, as well as mass media and
international human rights institutions.

The rights may be limited in case their execution hampers examination
or expertise and pose danger to patients.