World Psychiatric Association (WPA): Memo on the Issue of Alleged Political Abuse of Psychiatry in China

On May 19, 2003, the WPA issued the following statement entitled "Memo on the Issue of Alleged Political Abuse of Psychiatry in China."

"The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) informs the international psychiatric community that the plans for the site visit to China aimed to explore the alleged political abuse of psychiatry have been delayed during the past eight months by the limited collaboration on the part of Chinese health authorities, in spite of the efforts of the Chinese Society of Psychiatry, which are gratefully recognized. The WPA Review Committee, after a prolonged period of investigation, has produced a statement that 'the evidence provided is insufficient to prove conclusively whether or not there is political abuse of psychiatry in the People's Republic of China, but that further clarifications are needed.' A meeting of the WPA President with the former Minister of Health of the People's Republic of China planned for January 28-29, 2003, had been canceled, and no feedback has been provided to the letters subsequently sent by the WPA President to the Chinese health authorities.

"The WPA acknowledges that crucial changes have recently occurred in China, and that the new Minister of Health and Vice-Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, Mrs. Wu Yi, is invoking the maximum possible transparency when dealing with health issues, especially those with significant ethical implications.

"THE WPA ADDRESSES A PUBLIC APPEAL TO MRS. WU YI, ASKING HER TO AUTHORIZE A VISIT OF A WPA TASK FORCE TO CHINA, WITH FREE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THOSE IN FORENSIC SETTINGS.

"The aim of the Task Force is to ascertain whether any abuse of psychiatry is taking place and to produce with the Chinese Society of Psychiatry and the Chinese heath authorities, specific guidelines aimed to prevent any abuse of psychiatry in the future. The application of these guidelines will then have to be monitored jointly.

"The WPA urges the Chinese Society of Psychiatry to persevere in its collaborative efforts to facilitate the above-mentioned visit within the current year 2003 and to provide without further delay the clarifications and documents requested by the WPA Review Committee."