The mental health-related maladies are becoming more and more popular with the society these days. And yet in the hospitals and mental health institutions, psychiatric patients still do not receive the respect, safety, and rights they deserve. This article discusses in detail the rights of psychiatric patients that are in or being treated in hospitals and institutions, and how important it is for every patient and family to know about these rights.
Psychiatric Patients and Institutional Care
Psychiatric patients are individuals who are struggling with serious mental health conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, or trauma. When home care is not possible, they are admitted to hospitals or mental health institutions.
The purpose of institutional care is to provide the patient with a safe environment, appropriate treatment, and emotional support—not to isolate them or strip them of their freedom.
Why is it important to know patients’ rights?
Many patients and their families assume that once admitted to a hospital, every decision made by the doctor or institution is final. But the truth is, patients do not lose their rights during treatment.
Knowledge of rights:
- Protects against exploitation and abuse
- Gives the patient self-respect
- Makes treatment more effective and humane
Right to Respect and Humane Treatment
Every psychiatric patient has the right to:
Be treated with respect and dignity
Not be subjected to abusive language, threats, or violence
Not have their illness define their identity
Mental illness does not diminish a person’s humanity. Calling a patient “crazy” or “incompetent” is a violation of their rights.
Right to a Safe and Clean Environment
Patients admitted to a hospital or institution should receive:
- Safe rooms
- Clean bedding and food
- An environment free from violence and fear
- Making any patient feel physically or mentally unsafe is considered gross negligence.
Right to Information and Consent Regarding Treatment
Right to Information
The patient has the right to know:
- What illness they have
- What the treatment process will be
- The potential benefits and side effects of medications and therapies
Right to Consent
- Treatment should not be administered without the patient’s explicit consent.
- Forced medication, injections, or therapy can only be given in emergency situations.
- This right makes the patient an active participant in their treatment.
Right to Privacy and Confidentiality
Even while in the hospital, the patient has the right to:
- Private conversations
- Confidentiality of medical records
- Confidentiality of personal information
- Sharing information with a third party without permission is wrong and violates the patient’s dignity.
Right to Maintain Contact with Family
The psychiatric patient has the right to:
- Meet with their family
- Maintain contact through phone or other means
- Talk to a trusted person
Unless it poses a threat to their safety or the safety of others.
Contact with family plays a crucial role in improving the patient’s mental health.
Right to Treatment Free from Discrimination
In the hospital or institution:
- There should be no difference in treatment based on whether someone is rich or poor
- Whether they are male or female
- Or based on any particular caste, religion, or background
- Mental health services should be equal for all.
Protection from Forced Confinement and Isolation
- Sometimes patients are:
- Confined to a separate room without reason
- Kept in isolation for extended periods
This can only be done if:
- The patient is likely to harm themselves or others
- It is the last resort
- Unnecessary isolation is a violation of human rights.
Right to Complaint and Redress
If a patient experiences:
- Mistreatment
- Negligence
- Forced treatment
- Then they or their family have the full right to:
- File a complaint
- Seek legal assistance
- Contact the Human Rights Commission
- Accountability of institutions is extremely important.
Right to Quality and Continuous Treatment
The patient has the right to:
- Treatment from trained mental health professionals
- Scientific and evidence-based treatment
- Regular evaluation and follow-up
- Incomplete or incorrect treatment can worsen the patient’s condition.
Right to Discharge and Rehabilitation
The patient has the right to:
- Not be kept in the institution for an unnecessarily long period
- Be discharged when their condition improves
- Receive rehabilitation support to reintegrate into society
- The goal of treatment is to make the patient independent and self-reliant.
Role of the Family
The family should:
- Be aware of the patient’s rights
- Be vigilant during the treatment process
- Be the patient’s voice when they are unable to speak for themselves
- Family support provides emotional security for the patient.
Responsibility of Society and Institutions
Society should:
- Not stigmatize mental health
- Be sensitive to the rights of patients
- Hospitals and institutions should:
- Maintain transparency
- Adhere to ethical standards
- Follow legal guidelines
Conclusion
Psychiatric patients admitted to hospitals and mental health institutions do not lose their fundamental rights in the name of treatment. They are entitled to respectful treatment, a safe environment, full information about their treatment, the right to give informed consent, and the freedom to speak out against any injustice.
When mental health care is provided on the basis of human rights, patients not only recover faster, but their feelings of fear and helplessness are also reduced. This decreases instances of exploitation and strengthens the sense of compassion and justice in society.
