A follow-up to Dresden was an invitation by the World Psychiatric Association to speak at their World Congress in Prague:

Here is the title and abstract of the successful talk by David Oaks, Director of MindFreedom International, gave at the World Congress of the World Psychiatric Association:

World Congress of Psychiatry

Document ID: WCP4323

MindFreedom International, Eugene, United States

David W. Oaks, oaks@mindfreedom.org

Topic: Ethics in psychiatry

Title: AN URGENT NEED FOR DIALOGUE ABOUT A “GLOBAL EMERGENCY” OF  HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Abstract Body: The point of view of individuals who have experienced  human rights violations in mental health care, and the organizations  that represent us, need to be heard by psychiatric professional  organizations. Mediated dialogue must be encouraged between groups  representing psychiatric survivors and groups representing mental  health professionals.

We are not alone. Dr. Benedetto Saraceno, Director of the Department  of Mental Health and Substance Dependence at the World Health  Organization (WHO), has stated, “The violation of human rights of …  psychiatric services users and the recognition of their role and  rights as citizens are a main concern for WHO. WHO thinks that no  treatment can be credibly provided in a context which systematically  violates human rights. There is a global emergency for the human  rights of people suffering from mental health problems. I insist on  the word ‘global’ as people tend to believe that these kinds of  violations always occur somewhere else when, in fact, they occur  everywhere.”

Certain human rights controversies are especially pressing, such as  involuntary electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) against the expressed  wishes of the subject, and long-term, high-dosage coerced  administration of neuroleptic psychiatric drugs.

In a broader sense, though, if a family with a member in severe  crisis is primarily offered psychiatric drugs, when non-drug  approaches can work, this too is a kind of coercion. I respect an  individual’s right to take prescribed psychiatric drugs. However,  being offered only one choice is not really a choice at all. Creating  more non-drug voluntary alternatives has become a human rights concern.

Here is a link to the bio about David W. Oaks on the World Psychiatric Association web site:

http://www.wpa-prague2008.cz/Text/oaks