Table 1.

Concordance of India’s Mental Healthcare Act 2017 with the World Health Organization’s “Checklist on mental health legislation” (World Health Organization, 2005)

Legislative issue				Is Indian legislation concordant or not?
A	Preamble and objectives	1a	Does the legislation have a preamble which emphasises the human rights of people with mental disorders?	Yes
		1b	Does the legislation have a preamble which emphasises the importance of accessible mental health services for all?	Yes
		2a	Does the legislation specify that the purpose and objectives to be achieved include non-discrimination against people with mental disorders?	No
		2b	Does the legislation specify that the purpose and objectives to be achieved include promotion and protection of the rights of people with mental disorders?	Yes
		2c	Does the legislation specify that the purpose and objectives to be achieved include improved access to mental health services?	Yes
		2d	Does the legislation specify that the purpose and objectives to be achieved include a community-based approach?	Yes
B	Definitions	1	Is there a clear definition of mental disorder/mental illness/mental disability/mental incapacity?	Yes
		2	Is it evident from the legislation why the particular term (above) has been chosen?	No
		3	Is the legislation clear on whether or not mental retardation/intellectual disability, personality disorders and substance abuse are being covered in the legislation?	No
		4	Are all key terms in the legislation clearly defined?	Yes
		5	Are all the key terms used consistently throughout the legislation (i.e. not interchanged with other terms with similar meanings)?	Yes
		6	Are all “interpretable” terms (i.e. terms that may have several possible interpretations or meanings or may be ambiguous in terms of their meaning) in the legislation defined?	Yes
C	Access to mental health care	1	Does the legislation make provision for the financing of mental health services?	No
		2	Does the legislation state that mental health services should be provided on an equal basis with physical health care?	Yes
		3	Does the legislation ensure allocation of resources to underserved populations and specify that these services should be culturally appropriate?	No
		4	Does the legislation promote mental health within primary health care?	Yes
		5	Does the legislation promote access to psychotropic drugs?	Yes
		6	Does the legislation promote a psychosocial, rehabilitative approach?	Yes
		7	Does the legislation promote access to health insurance in the private and public health sector for people with mental disorders?	Yes
		8	Does the legislation promote community care and deinstitutionalisation?	Yes
D	Rights of users of mental health services	1	Does the legislation include the rights to respect, dignity and to be treated in a humane way?	Yes
		2	Is the right to patients’ confidentiality regarding information about themselves, their illness and treatment included?	Yes
		2a	Are there sanctions and penalties for people who contravene patients’ confidentiality?	Yes
		2b	Does the legislation lay down exceptional circumstances when confidentiality may be legally breached?	Yes
		2c	Does the legislation allow patients and their personal representatives the right to ask for judicial review of, or appeal against, decisions to release information?	No
		3	Does the legislation provide patients free and full access to information about themselves (including access to their clinical records)?	Yes
		3a	Are circumstances in which such access can be denied outlined?	Yes
		3b	Does the legislation allow patients and their personal representatives the right to ask for judicial review of, or appeal against, decisions to withhold information?	Yes
		4	Does the law specify the right to be protected from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment?	Yes
		5	Does the legislation set out the minimal conditions to be maintained in mental health facilities for a safe, therapeutic and hygienic environment?	No
		6	Does the law insist on the privacy of people with mental disorders?	Yes
		6a	Is the law clear on minimal levels of privacy to be respected?	No
		7	Does the legislation outlaw forced or inadequately remunerated labour within mental health institutions?	Yes
		8	Does the law make provision for educational activities; vocational training; leisure and recreational activities; and religious or cultural needs of people with mental disorders?	Yes
		9	Are the health authorities compelled by the law to inform patients of their rights?	Yes
		10	Does legislation ensure that users of mental health services are involved in mental health policy, legislation development and service planning?	Yes
E	Rights of families or other carers	1	Does the law entitle families or other primary carers to information about the person with a mental disorder (unless the patient refuses the divulging of such information)?	No
		2	Are family members or other primary carers encouraged to become involved in the formulation and implementation of the patient’s individualised treatment plan?	No
		3	Do families or other primary carers have the right to appeal involuntary admission and treatment decisions?	No
		4	Do families or other primary carers have the right to apply for the discharge of mentally ill offenders?	No
		5	Does legislation ensure that family members or other carers are involved in the development of mental health policy, legislation and service planning?	Yes
F	Competence, capacity and guardianship	1	Does legislation make provision for the management of the affairs of people with mental disorders if they are unable to do so?	Yes
		2	Does the law define “competence” and “capacity”?	Yes
		3	Does the law lay down a procedure and criteria for determining a person’s incapacity/incompetence with respect to issues such as treatment decisions, selection of a substitute decision-maker, making financial decisions?	Yes
		4	Are procedures laid down for appeals against decisions of incapacity/incompetence, and for periodic reviews of decisions?	No
		5	Does the law lay down procedures for the appointment, duration, duties and responsibilities of a guardian to act on behalf of a patient?	No
		6	Does the law determine a process for establishing in which areas a guardian may take decisions on behalf of a patient?	No
		7	Does the law make provision for a systematic review of the need for a guardian?	No
		8	Does the law make provision for a patient to appeal against the appointment of a guardian?	Yes
G	Voluntary admission and treatment	1	Does the law promote voluntary admission and treatment as a preferred alternative to involuntary admission and treatment?	Yes
		2	Does the law state that all voluntary patients can only be treated after obtaining informed consent?	Yes
		3	Does the law state that people admitted as voluntary mental health users should be cared for in a way that is equitable with patients with physical health problems?	Yes
		4	Does the law state that voluntary admission and treatment also implies the right to voluntary discharge/refusal of treatment?	Yes
		5	Does the law state that voluntary patients should be informed at the time of admission that they may only be denied the right to leave if they meet the conditions for involuntary care?	No
H	Non-protesting patients	1	Does the law make provision for patients who are incapable of making informed decisions about admission or treatment, but who do not refuse admission or treatment?	No
		2	Are the conditions under which a non-protesting patient may be admitted and treated specified?	No
		3	Does the law state that if users admitted or treated under this provision object to their admission or treatment they must be discharged or treatment stopped unless the criteria for involuntary admission are met?	No
I	Involuntary admission (when separate from treatment) and involuntary treatment (where admission and treatment are combined)	1a	Does the law state that involuntary admission may only be allowed if there is evidence of mental disorder of specified severity?	Yes
		1b	Does the law state that involuntary admission may only be allowed if there is serious likelihood of harm to self or others and/or substantial likelihood of serious deterioration in the patient’s condition if treatment is not given?	Yes
		1c	Does the law state that involuntary admission may only be allowed if admission is for a therapeutic purpose?	No
		2	Does the law state that two accredited mental health care practitioners must certify that the criteria for involuntary admission have been met?	Yes
		3	Does the law insist on accreditation of a facility before it can admit involuntary patients?	Yes
		4	Is the principle of the least restrictive environment applied to involuntary admissions?	Yes
		5	Does the law make provision for an independent authority (e.g. review body or tribunal) to authorise all involuntary admissions?	Yes
		6	Are speedy time frames laid down within which the independent authority must make a decision?	Yes
		7	Does the law insist that patients, families and legal representatives be informed of the reasons for admission and of their rights of appeal?	No
		8	Does the law provide for a right to appeal an involuntary admission?	Yes
		9	Does the law include a provision for time-bound periodic reviews of involuntary (and long-term “voluntary”) admission by an independent authority?	No
		10	Does the law specify that patients must be discharged from involuntary admission as soon as they no longer fulfil the criteria for involuntary admission?	Yes
J	Involuntary treatment (when separate from involuntary admission)	1a	Does the law set out the criteria that must be met for involuntary treatment, including: Patient suffers from a mental disorder?	Yes
		1b	Does the law set out the criteria that must be met for involuntary treatment, including: Patient lacks the capacity to make informed treatment decisions?	Yes
		1c	Does the law set out the criteria that must be met for involuntary treatment, including: Treatment is necessary to bring about an improvement in the patient’s condition, and/or restore the capacity to make treatment decisions, and/or prevent serious deterioration, and/or prevent injury or harm to self or others?	No
		2	Does the law ensure that a treatment plan is proposed by an accredited practitioner with expertise and knowledge to provide the treatment?	Yes
		3	Does the law make provision for a second practitioner to agree on the treatment plan?	No
		4	Has an independent body been set up to authorise involuntary treatment?	Yes
		5	Does the law ensure that treatment is for a limited time period only?	Yes
		6	Does the law provide for a right to appeal involuntary treatment?	Yes
		7	Are there speedy, time-bound, periodic reviews of involuntary treatment in the legislation?	Yes
K	Proxy consent for treatment	1	Does the law provide for a person to consent to treatment on a patient’s behalf if that patient has been found incapable of consenting?	Yes
		2	Is the patient given the right to appeal a treatment decision to which a proxy consent has been given?	No
		3	Does the law provide for use of “advance directives” and, if so, is the term clearly defined?	Yes
L	Involuntary treatment in community settings	1	Does the law provide for involuntary treatment in the community as a “less restrictive” alternative to an inpatient mental health facility?	No
		2	Are all the criteria and safeguards required for involuntary inpatient treatment also included for involuntary community-based treatment?	No
M	Emergency situations	1	Are the criteria for emergency admission/treatment limited to situations where there is a high probability of immediate and imminent danger or harm to self and/or others?	Yes
		2	Is there a clear procedure in the law for admission and treatment in emergency situations?	Yes
		3	Does the law allow any qualified and accredited medical or mental health practitioner to admit and treat emergency cases?	Yes
		4	Does the law specify a time limit for emergency admission (usually no longer than 72 h)?	Yes
		5	Does the law specify the need to initiate procedures for involuntary admission and treatment, if needed, as soon as possible after the emergency situation has ended?	No
		6	Are treatments such as ECT, psychosurgery and sterilization, as well as participation in clinical or experimental trials outlawed for people held as emergency cases?	Yes
		7	Do patients, family members and personal representatives have the right to appeal against emergency admission/treatment?	No
N	Determinations of mental disorder	1a	Does the legislation Define the level of skills required to determine mental disorder?	No
		1b	Does the legislation specify the categories of professionals who may assess a person to determine the existence of a mental disorder?	No
		2	Is the accreditation of practitioners codified in law and does this ensure that accreditation is operated by an independent body?	Yes
O	Special treatments	1	Does the law prohibit sterilization as a treatment for mental disorder?	Yes
		1a	Does the law specify that the mere fact of having a mental disorder should not be a reason for sterilization or abortion without informed consent?	No
		2	Does the law require informed consent for major medical and surgical procedures on persons with a mental disorder?	Yes
		2a	Does the law allow medical and surgical procedures without informed consent, if waiting for informed consent would put the patient’s life at risk?	Yes
		2b	In cases where inability to consent is likely to be long term, does the law allow authorization for medical and surgical procedures from an independent review body or by proxy consent of a guardian?	Yes
		3	Are psychosurgery and other irreversible treatments outlawed on involuntary patients?	No
		3a	Is there an independent body that makes sure there is indeed informed consent for psychosurgery or other irreversible treatments on involuntary patients?	Yes
		4	Does the law specify the need for informed consent when using ECT?	No
		5	Does the law prohibit the use of unmodified ECT?	Yes
		6	Does the law prohibit the use of ECT in minors?	No
P	Seclusion and restraint	1	Does the law state that seclusion and restraint should only be utilized in exceptional cases to prevent immediate or imminent harm to self or others?	Yes
		2	Does the law state that seclusion and restraint should never be used as a means of punishment or for the convenience of staff?	Yes
		3	Does the law specify a restricted maximum time period for which seclusion and restraints can be used?	No
		4	Does the law ensure that one period of seclusion and restraint is not followed immediately by another?	No
		5	Does the law encourage the development of appropriate structural and human resource requirements that minimize the need to use seclusion and restraints in mental health facilities?	No
		6	Does the law lay down adequate procedures for the use of seclusion and restraints, including: who should authorise it; that the facility should be accredited; that the reasons and duration of each incident be recorded in a database and made available to a review board; and that family members/carers and personal representatives be immediately informed when the patient is subject to seclusion and/or restraint?	Yes
Q	Clinical and experimental research	1	Does the law state that informed consent must be obtained for participation in clinical or experimental research from both voluntary and involuntary patients who have the ability to consent?	Yes
		2a	Where a person is unable to give informed consent (and where a decision has been made that research can be conducted): Does the law ensure that proxy consent is obtained from either the legally appointed guardian or family member, or from an independent authority constituted for this purpose?	Yes
		2b	Where a person is unable to give informed consent (and where a decision has been made that research can be conducted): Does the law state that the research cannot be conducted if the same research could be conducted on people capable of consenting, and that the research is necessary to promote the health of the individual and that of the population represented?	Yes
R	Oversight and review mechanisms	1	Does the law set up a judicial or quasi-judicial body to review processes related to involuntary admission or treatment and other restrictions of rights?	Yes
		1a(i)	Does the above body: Assess each involuntary admission/treatment?	No
		1a(ii)	Does the above body entertain appeals against involuntary admission and/or involuntary treatment?	Yes
		1a(iii)	Does the above body review the cases of patients admitted on an involuntary basis (and long-term voluntary patients)?	No
		1a(iv)	Does the above body regularly monitor patients receiving treatment against their will?	Yes
		1a(v)	Does the above body Authorise or prohibit intrusive and irreversible treatments (such as psychosurgery and ECT)?	Yes
		1b	Does the composition of this body include an experienced legal practitioner and an experienced health care practitioner, and a “wise person” reflecting the “community” perspective?	Yes
		1c	Does the law allow for appeal of this body’s decisions to a higher court?	Yes
		2	Does the law set up a regulatory and oversight body to protect the rights of people with mental disorders within and outside mental health facilities?	Yes
		2a(i)	Does the above body conduct regular inspections of mental health facilities?	Yes
		2a(ii)	Does the above body provide guidance on minimising intrusive treatments?	No
		2a(iii)	Does the above body maintain statistics; on, for example, the use of intrusive and irreversible treatments, seclusion and restraints?	No
		2a(iv)	Does the above body maintain registers of accredited facilities and professionals?	Yes
		2a(v)	Does the above body report and make recommendations directly to the appropriate government minister?	Yes
		2a(vi)	Does the above body publish findings on a regular a basis?	No
		2b	Does the composition of the body include professionals (in mental health, legal, social work), representatives of users of mental health facilities, members representing families of people with mental disorders, advocates and lay persons?	Yes
		2c	Is this body’s authority clearly stated in the legislation?	Yes
		3a	Does the legislation outline procedures for submissions, investigations and resolutions of complaints?	Yes
		3b(i)	Does the law stipulate the time period from the occurrence of the incident within which the complaint should be made?	No
		3b(ii)	Does the law stipulate a maximum time period within which the complaint should be responded to, by whom and how?	Yes
		3b(iii)	Does the law stipulate the right of patients to choose and appoint a personal representative and/or legal counsel to represent them in any appeals or complaints procedures?	No
		3b(iv)	Does the law stipulate the right of patients to an interpreter during the proceedings, if necessary?	Yes
		3b(v)	Does the law stipulate the right of patients and their counsel to access copies of their medical records and any other relevant reports and documents during the complaints or appeals procedures?	Yes
		3b(vi)	Does the law stipulate the right of patients and their counsel to attend and participate in complaints and appeals procedures?	Yes
S	Police responsibilities	1	Does the law place restrictions on the activities of the police to ensure that persons with mental disorders are protected against unlawful arrest and detention, and are directed towards the appropriate health care services?	Yes
		2	Does the legislation allow family members, carers or health professionals to obtain police assistance in situations where a patient is highly aggressive or is showing out-of-control behaviour?	Yes
		3	Does the law allow for persons arrested for criminal acts, and in police custody, to be promptly assessed for mental disorder if there is suspicion of mental disorder?	Yes
		4	Does the law make provision for the police to assist in taking a person to a mental health facility who has been involuntarily admitted to the facility?	No
		5	Does the legislation make provision for the police to find an involuntarily committed person who has absconded and return him/her to the mental health facility?	Yes
T	Mentally ill offenders	1	Does the legislation allow for diverting an alleged offender with a mental disorder to the mental health system in lieu of prosecuting him/her, taking into account the gravity of the offence, the person’s psychiatric history, mental health state at the time of the offence, the likelihood of detriment to the person’s health and the community’s interest in prosecution?	Yes
		2	Does the law make adequate provision for people who are not fit to stand trial to be assessed, and for charges to be dropped or stayed while they undergo treatment?	Yes
		2a	Are people undergoing such treatment given the same rights in the law as other involuntarily admitted persons, including the right to judicial review by an independent body?	Yes
		3	Does the law allow for people who are found by the courts to be “not responsible due to mental disability” to be treated in a mental health facility and to be discharged once their mental disorder sufficiently improves?	Yes
		4	Does the law allow, at the sentencing stage, for persons with mental disorders to be given probation or hospital orders, rather than being sentenced to prison?	Yes
		5	Does the law allow for the transfer of a convicted prisoner to a mental health facility if he/she becomes mentally ill while serving a sentence?	Yes
		5a	Does the law prohibit keeping a prisoner in the mental health facility for longer than the sentence, unless involuntary admission procedures are followed?	No
		6	Does the legislation provide for secure mental health facilities for mentally ill offenders?	Yes
U	Discrimination	1	Does the law include provisions aimed at stopping discrimination against people with mental disorders?	Yes
V	Housing	1	Does the law ensure non-discrimination of people with mental disorders in the allocation of housing?	Yes
		2	Does the law make provision for housing of people with mental disorders in state housing schemes or through subsidized housing?	Yes
		3	Does the legislation make provision for housing in halfway homes and long-stay, supported homes for people with mental disorders?	Yes
W	Employment	1	Does the law make provision for the protection of persons with mental disorders from discrimination and exploitation in the work place?	Yes
		2	Does the law provide for “reasonable accommodation” for employees with mental disorders, for example by providing for a degree of flexibility in working hours to enable those employees to seek mental health treatment?	Yes
		3	Does the law provide for equal employment opportunities for people with mental disorders?	No
		4	Does the law make provision for the establishment of vocational rehabilitation programmes and other programmes that provide jobs and employment in the community for people with mental disorders?	Yes
X	Social security	1	Does legislation provide for disability grants and pensions for people with mental disabilities?	No
		2	Does the law provide for disability grants and pensions for people with mental disorders at similar rates as those for people with physical disabilities?	Yes
Y	Civil issues	1	Does the law uphold the rights of people with mental disorders to the full range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights to which all people are entitled?	Yes
Z	Protection of vulnerable groups
	Protection of minors	1	Does the law limit the involuntary placement of minors in mental health facilities to instances where all feasible community alternatives have been tried?	Yes
		2a	If minors are placed in mental health facilities, does the legislation stipulate that they should have a separate living area from adults?	Yes
		2b	If minors are placed in mental health facilities, does the legislation stipulate that the environment is age appropriate and takes into consideration the developmental needs of minors?	Yes
		3	Does the law ensure that all minors have an adult to represent them in all matters affecting them, including consenting to treatment?	Yes
		4	Does the law stipulate the need to take the opinions of minors into consideration on all issues affecting them (including consent to treatment), depending on their age and maturity?	No
		5	Does legislation ban all irreversible treatments for children?	No
	Protection of women	1	Does legislation allow women with mental disorders equal rights with men in all matters relating to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights?	Yes
		2a	Does the law ensure that women in mental health facilities: have adequate privacy?	No
		2b	Does the law ensure that women in mental health facilities: are provided with separate sleeping facilities from men?	No
		3	Does legislation state that women with mental disorders should receive equal mental health treatment and care as men, including access to mental health services and care in the community, and in relation to voluntary and involuntary admission and treatment?	Yes
	Protection of minorities	1	Does legislation specifically state that persons with mental disorders should not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinions, national, ethnic or social origin, legal or social status?	Yes
		2	Does the legislation provide for a review body to monitor involuntary admission and treatment of minorities and ensure non-discrimination on all matters?	No
		3	Does the law stipulate that refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to the same mental health treatment as other citizens of the host country?	No
AZ	Offences and penalties	1	Does the law have a section dealing with offences and appropriate penalties?	Yes
		2	Does the law provide appropriate sanctions against individuals who violate any of the rights of patients as established in the law?	Yes

This table comprises a slightly edited version of the World Health Organization’s “Checklist on mental health legislation” (WHO (2005) WHO resource book on mental health, human rights and legislation. Geneva: WHO)

The table indicates whether legislation in India meets or does not meet specific standards

See text for details and references in relation to individual standards