[Forced medical intervention in psychiatric inpatient treatment]

In anticipation of ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Japanese Government made a Cabinet decision to promote institutional reforms concerning disabled persons, in which involuntary hospitalization and medical intervention for persons with mental disabilities would be reviewed. In response to the decision, the Cabinet launched the Council to Promote Reform for "Promotion Council reform Persons with Disabilities" in the Cabinet Office, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare set up a task force aimed to build systems of community mental health care. Although the activities have been progressing, according to published documents, the effectiveness and efficacy of the countermeasures presented in the documents seem insufficient. Fundamental reforms of systems for the treatment and support of persons with mental disabilities are needed.