11 April 1995

Doc. 7279

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

Interim reply to Recommendation 1235 (1994) on psychiatry and human rights (adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 6 April 1995 at the 533rd meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

      The Committee of Ministers wishes to inform the Assembly that, further to its adoption of Recommendation 1235 (1994) on psychiatry and human rights, it decided to transmit the recommendation to the governments of member states and to seek the opinions of the following steering committees: Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH), European Health Committee (CDSP) and Steering Committee on Bioethics (CDBI).

      In the light of the opinions received, the Committee of Ministers wished to make a detailed analysis of the proposals set out in Assembly Recommendation 1235 (1994) in order to ascertain whether it was appropriate - and if so to what extent - to revise Committee of Ministers Recommendation No. R (83) 2 on the legal protection of persons suffering from mental disorder placed as involuntary patients.

      Accordingly, the Committee of Ministers decided to appoint a committee made up of specialists designated by the CDDH, the CDSP, the CDBI, the European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) and the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC).

      The Committee of Ministers will keep the Assembly informed of the conclusions reached by that committee and the action it has taken on them.