But Liu Feiyue (劉飛躍) of Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch, who monitors such cases, warned that the effects of incarceration are lasting.
“Many victims suffer long-term depression and struggle after their release,” he said.
Munro fears that pressure to curb other forms of arbitrary detention has led some officials to turn to psychiatric institutions, where they face few awkward questions. China does not have a mental health law; there are no admission hearings and no rights to legal counsel or a second opinion.
Piecemeal regulations stipulate that admission requires a psychiatric evaluation showing individuals are a risk to themselves or others and the approval of their legal guardians — almost always close relatives — or police officers who believe they have committed or will commit a crime.
Even these inadequate criteria are frequently ignored, researchers say.
Asked about Liao, the head nurse at Yanshi mental hospital said she could not comment due to patient confidentiality and hung up. The city’s police did not respond to faxed questions.
With no time limit on detention, and no appeals, hospitals need not release patients until or unless they choose.
“There is not much to be done about it,” said Huang Xuetao (黃雪濤), a Shenzhen-based lawyer who has acted for several detainees.
Without legal means of resolution, he appeals to whoever ordered detention and asks the media for help.
“Sometimes it works,” Huang said. “Sometimes it makes it worse.”
RSS