NHRCK filed a complaint against staff members of a mental institution, who wrongfully admitted and discharged some patients with mental disease, and urged the revision of relevant regulations.
After investigating a mental institution located in Jeollabuk-do, against which a petition had been filed in August 2005, NHRCK discovered that the institution had failed to request " inspections for continuous housing of patients" mandated by mental health law. The investigation also revealed that the institution had been housing a considerable number of long-term patients who had been admitted more than 10 years ago.
Performed by mental health judgment committees organized by local governments, the inspection is virtually the only way for the patients who have been forcefully admitted to get out of mental institutions. The institution in question has been avoiding the inspections for the patients who have no known relatives and who are homeless. It even transferred its patients to different institutions and readmitted them.
NHRCK also advised the county chief to issue warnings to the officials of Jeollabuk-do and the county courthouse which were responsible for the institution for not taking appropriate measures. The Commission urged the Minister of Health and Welfare to provide special mental health education sessions to the officials of Jeollabuk-do and the county courthouse and extend them to other local governments as soon as possible.
