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89
provision of accommodation at their larger establishments in
order to stimulate the introduction of better facilities for inpatients
nearer their own community.
Nevertheless, despite all recent advances, it must be admitted
that the larger part of the burden of the mentally disabled will
continue to be carried by the extended family and we would do
well to resign ourselves to the fact that it will be some years
before official health, and social services are sufficiently developed
to undertake these duties even if considered desirable. For the
foreseeable future our services will, of necessity, be predominantly
supportive and much will depend upon the co-operation between
general practitioners and Social Workers which the recent Social
Services Act has tended to jeopardise.
As a matter of interest the following Declaration of Rights of
Mentally Retarded Persons was formally adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly on 20th December, 1971:—
1. The mentally retarded person has, to the maximum degree of feasibility,
the same rights as other human beings.
2. The mentally retarded person has a right to proper medical care and
physical therapy and to such education, training, rehabilitation and
guidance as will enable him to develop his ability and maximum
potential.
3. The mentally retarded person has a right to economic security and to a
decent standard of living. He has a right to perform productive work or
to engage in any other meaningful occupation to the fullest possible
extent of his capabilities.
4. Whenever possible, the mentally retarded person should live with his
own family or with foster parents and participate in different forms of
community life. The family with which he lives should receive assistance.
If care in an institution becomes necessary, it should be provided
in surroundings and other circumstances as close as possible to those
of normal life.
5. The mentally retarded person has a right to a qualified guardian when
this is required to protect his personal well-being and interests.
6. The mentally retarded person has a right to protection from exploitation,
abuse and degrading treatment. If prosecuted for any offence, he
shall have a right to due process of law with full recognition being
given to his degree of mental responsibility.
7. Whenever mentally retarded persons are unable, because of the severity
of their handicap, to exercise all their rights in a meaningful way or it
should become necessary to restrict or deny some or all of these rights,
the procedure used for that restriction or denial of rights must contain
proper legal safeguards against every form of abuse. This procedure
must be based on an evaluation of the social capability of the mentally
retarded person by qualified experts and must be subject to periodic
review and to the right of appeal to higher authorities.