RA HEALTH MINISTRY DEVELOPS DRAFT LAW ON OBLIGATORY TREATMENT
Noyan Tapan
Jun 28, 2007
YEREVAN, JUNE 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry has developed a bill
on obligatory treatment, which is envisaged to be submitted for the RA
government’s consideration in the near future. According to the bill,
it has been envisaged to send mental patients, as well as patients
who suffer from viral diseases, tuberculosis, and other deseases
dangerous to society, for obligatory treatment. According to the
information provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent by Suren Krmoyan,
the legal adviser to the RA Health Minister, Armenia has a number of
obligations concerning human rights, as well as rights for voluntary
treatment. However, according to him, there exists a circumstance
for the protection of the interests of society. "For example, if a
mental patient is agressive, he or she can inflict serious injuries
upon other members of society," S. Krmoyan mentioned.
He mentioned, at the same time, that such mechanisms should be worked
out that will give no rise to abuse when this law is enforced. For
example, S.
Krmoyan believes that there could be cases when the relatives of a
patient, who is of no danger to society, will try to get rid of him
or her for this or that reason and will claim obligatory treatment.