China Medical News

China’s first national Mental Health Law came into effect on May 1, 2013. The Law explicitly states that patients with mental disorders (with the exception of those with severe mental illness or have the potential to harm themselves or others) shall receive inpatient treatment purely on a voluntary basis. The law also requires medical institutions to respect the patient's request to be discharged. The law has attracted a great deal of attention since a draft of the law was first submitted for discussion, as reports of people being wrongly institutionalized have increased. (Source: Xinhua)