Mental health law needs to be more detailed

A man attacks a 2-year-old boy by the roadside, kicking him in the head and beating him with a broom for a number of minutes, without any passers-by intervening. [Photo/IC]

A man attacked a 2-year-old boy by the roadside, kicking him in the head and beating him with a broom for a number of minutes, without any passers-by intervening. The man was eventually stopped by people rushing out from a nearby shop. Local police put in the man in custody and later said he had a mental disorder. He had previously attacked a 57-year-old woman on the same day. Comments:

Where were the local police when the suspect attacked the woman? Had they not failed in their duty earlier, the second tragedy could have been avoided. Incomplete data show there are more than 16,000 mentally ill people with a history of violence. The police nationwide need to perform their duty to ensure people's safety.

Beijing News, May 8

Despite witnessing the assault on a little child, at least two people went by without showing any concern. The indifference people show is terrible and everybody needs to think why we live in such a cold society.

Huaxi Metropolis Daily, May 8

According to the latest version of the mental health law, when people with a mental illness are suspected of or are known to have used violence against others, their relatives, employers or local police should immediately send them to medical institutions for diagnosis and treatment. The problem is the law fails to make it clear who is responsible for paying the medical bills and who is responsible for such patients in custody. The vagueness of the law means people will always wait for others to lend a hand.

Beijing Times, May 8

Many blame the passers-by for being apathetic, but what if someone tried to stop the suspect? If a good Samaritan gets hurt, he or she will never get any compensation. But if the good Samaritan hurts the suspect, he or she will be required to pay compensation. It is the authorities that are to blame for people's apathy.

Yi Tian, a Beijing-based publisher, May 7