The Japanese Association of Medical Sciences, which is formed by medical societies, has caused fear and discrimination about the government's amendment of the Infectious Diseases Control Law and consideration of criminal punishment for infected persons who refused hospitalization recommendations as a countermeasure against the new coronavirus. , Has issued an urgent statement calling for no provisions with criminal penalties or penalties, saying that cooperation with the measures may not be obtained.
The government has revised the Infectious Diseases Control Law to improve the effectiveness of measures against the new coronavirus, and imprisonment for cases where infected persons violate hospitalization recommendations, refuse to investigate health centers, or make false declarations. And are considering a plan to impose a fine.
Regarding this, the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences, which is made up of 136 medical societies in Japan, has issued an urgent statement calling for no provisions with criminal penalties or penalties.
The statement states that the current Infectious Diseases Control Law was enacted after reflecting on the fact that patients with tuberculosis and Hansen's disease were once detained and that serious human rights violations were committed in the name of preventing spread.
And coercion with penalties can lead to fear, anxiety, and discrimination, which can lead to loss of cooperation in countermeasures, as well as not being tested or hiding test results for fear of criminal penalties and penalties. It is assumed that countermeasures will be difficult.
In addition, the statement further states that when advising hospitalization, sufficient compensation such as income security and free medical care services will be provided, and legal restrictions will be imposed to prevent prejudice and discrimination. We demand that we give maximum consideration to human rights such as.
Expert "Avoid rushing and discuss carefully"
Isobe of Keio University Graduate School, a member of the government's subcommittee on measures against the new coronavirus, regarding the government's amendment of the Infectious Diseases Law and considering criminal punishment for infected persons who refused hospitalization recommendations. Professor Satoshi said, "Since the Infectious Diseases Control Law has caused significant discrimination against Hansen's disease patients, etc., the infectious diseases spread by first encouraging infected people to take voluntary actions and providing high-quality and appropriate medical care. The basic idea is to try to prevent it. Among them, a very powerful plan such as imprisonment has come out, and it is surprising that it is reported that it will be established in about one month. That's a frank impression. "
On top of that, "the law has a major principle that the purpose of limiting and the means of enforcement must be balanced, and in particular, refusal of hospitalization recommendations seems to be unbalanced in imprisonment. Even if a law with criminal punishment is enacted, whether the criminal procedure will actually proceed, such as police investigation of infected people, and whether the burden on doctors who diagnose infected people will be too heavy, etc. There are many challenges. Nowadays, there is a great deal of anxiety in society in a very urgent situation, and I understand that we have to do something about it, but it is absolutely necessary to avoid haste and discuss carefully. " Did.