I considered both procedural and substantive requirements for patient advocacy in the context of involuntary hospitalization, and reviewed the revised Act on Mental Health and Welfare for the Mentally Disabled. I concluded that the revised act does not satisfy either procedural or substantive requirements for the advocacy of patients.
The revised act stipulates that it be reviewed after three years. Along with carefully monitoring implementation of the new law, we must also create systems for reviewing the introduction of advocators, as well as enhancements to psychiatric review boards.
<Author's abstract>
Inpatient Advocacy under the New System of Involuntary Hospitalization
Okayama Public Law Office
Psychiatria et Neurologia Japonica
116: 298-301, 2014
<Keywords:advocacy, involuntary hospitalization, legal guardian, advocator, Act on Mental Health and Welfare for the Mentally Disabled>