Safeguard rights of people with disabilities

THE EDITOR, Madam:

December 3 is International Day of Disabled Persons, and as this day is being recognised, there needs to be urgent review of mental health in hospitals to ensure that doctors do not abuse their powers. In July 2021, I was admitted to a hospital where I was assaulted, allegedly by a doctor.

I think it might have happened under the rights around treatment policy which hospital doctors used and a lot of people in Jamaica and around the world are not aware of.

“When you are detained or placed on a Community Treatment Order, your doctor must check if you agree to your treatment or not, or if you are too unwell to agree to treatment.

Your doctor may then need to ask for a second opinion from a doctor who is an independent consultant psychiatrist, who will check whether the recommended treatment is appropriate and that your views and rights have been considered.”

I made a report to the police station in November 2021, regarding the assault and up to this day I have not heard anything about it.

Which made me have to highlight a few (rights and injustice above) of the condition, plight and situation that face persons with disability, their next of kin and well-minded individuals, such as Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of health and wellness; Dr. Horace Chang, minister of national security; Major General Antony Anderson, commissioner of police:human rights organisations and others.

ERRINGTON PELLINGTON

Founder / Director

Jamaica Paraplegic Foundation

Limited

erringtonpellington@

gmail.com