The issue of mental health is expected to be one of the biggest challenges facing healthcare systems in the future. Mental healthcare should be treated no differently to physical healthcare in that a human rights-based approach should be adopted in both. It is vital that the rights and self-determination of all patients, including persons with mental health difficulties, be promoted and that they may actively participate to the greatest possible extent in all decisions regarding their treatment and care. In this context, the development and use of voluntary measures and practices in mental healthcare should be promoted. 
The Committee on Bioethics (DH-BIO) of the Council of Europe is currently elaborating an Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine concerning the protection of human rights and dignity of persons with mental disorders with regard to involuntary placement and involuntary treatment. In this context, the DH-BIO decided to make available for consultation a draft Protocol as a working document with a reference DH BIO/INF (2015) 7.
The consultation process is now over and the results may be consulted below.
- Comments on the working document received during the public consultation
- Cover letter
- Working document
- Draft Explanatory Report
The purpose of this consultation is to elicit comments from individuals and bodies/institutions from all the fields concerned. The comments received will be taken into consideration in finalising the Additional Protocol.
