Be good or be in mental wards?

The photo is derived from New York Times.

Assertive Chinese Held in Mental Wards.

Life in Shadow of Mental Ill in China

Five months ago, a mental illness man took the kitchen knife and killed four people to death, including two primary school students. As a result, the public begins to focus this problem of mental ill. Why those mental illness patients are not cured in the mental hospital? According to another news, it seems mental wards in China are utilized to lock activist rather than patients in need.

The status quo of China psychiatric system is: no legal protection, prevalent psychiatric abuses, shaky medical ethics, poor-trained psychiatrist and obedient hospital administrators. The last characteristic especially represents that hospital has obligation to accept anyone escorted by government official, no matter the person is sane or not.

At the present time, the police and authorities know that it is illegal to confine someone arbitrarily. Therefore, sending activists to mental hospital seems to be the best way. The authorities face another trouble now: people in need cannot receive meager health care resources.

Xu, Lindong, a poor and low-educated farmer, was locked in mental wards for six and half years according to dispute over land against the local government. Finally he was released because this case was disclosed by China Youth Daily. His brother tried to hire a lawyer before, but no one dare to challenge the government.

How did authority deal with this case? Four local officials relevant with this case are fired and here come the visits and gifts. Mr. Xu received $300 from local officials for compensating his seven years of confinement.