R-2002-05-2002_OVE

Initiated: May 2001
THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION RESOLUTION
on
THE ABUSE OF PSYCIDATRY
Adopted by the WMA General Assembly, Washington 2002
20.512001
1. The World Medical Association (WMA) notes with concern evidence -from a number
of countries that political dissidents and social activists have been detained in
psychiatric institutions, and subjected to unnecessary psychiatric treatment as a
punishment.
2. TheWMA:
2.1 declares that such detention and treatment is abusive and unacceptable;
2.2 calls on physicians and psychiatrists to resist involvement in these abusive
practices;
,,’t ,.~1J~ on member NMAs to support their physician members who resist
2.3 calls on member NMAs to support their physician members who resist
involvement in these abuses; and
2.4 · calls on governments to stop abusing medicine and psychiatry in this manner,
and on non-governmental organizations and the World Health Organization to
support this initiative.
***
6.10.2002
The WMA Resolution on Political Abuse of Psychiatry (Doc. 20.512001) is an official policy document ofthe
World Medical Association, the global representative body for physicians. It was first adopted by the WMA
General Assembly, Washington 2002.
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