Persons with mental disabilities are children of God and are, therefore, our brothers and sisters within the human family; and
The full and equal rights of persons with mental disabilities are enshrined in the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church, as well as in the Constitution and laws of the United States of America; and
We note that the use of abusive treatment methods as "therapy" for persons with mental disabilities still occurs in the United States, and that such abusive treatment methods are used on both adults and children, and that programs which rely on such abusive treatment methods are usually funded by federal, state, and/or local tax revenues; and
A number of organizations which advocate for persons with mental disabilities have already taken stands against abusive treatment methods.
The United Methodist Church affirms the right of persons with disabilities to freedom from abusive treatment methods.
The United Methodist Church opposes the use of any form of punishment for children or adults with mental disabilities in any case where such punishment would be considered illegal, abusive, or unconscionable if applied to a child or adult who is not disabled. In particular, we condemn as unacceptable the following practices:
1) Treatment methods which result in physical injury or tissue damage to the person.
2) Verbal abuse or insult, humiliation, or degradation.
3) Prolonged isolation from others.
4) Denial of food, warmth, hygiene, contact with other human beings, or other necessities of life.
5) The use of electric shock or noxious substances as a form of punishment.
6) The use of any punishment on a child with a mental disability that would be considered child abuse if used on a child with no disabilities.
7) Neglect.
8) The misuse of physical or chemical restraint.
9) The threat of any of the above treatments.
Any therapy used in the treatment of persons with mental disabilities must be potentially beneficial to the person. As an alternative to abusive treatment methods, we support the use of positive approaches in the treatment of persons with mental disabilities. Positive approaches affirm the humanity of persons with mental disabilities and recognize that the needs and desires of such persons are not significantly different from those of other persons. Our obligation to persons with mental disabilities is to support and assist them in their efforts to live lives as rich and rewarding as possible. We call upon all public and private agencies and service providers involved in treating persons with mental disabilities to adopt and uphold the standards set forth in this resolution.
We call upon United Methodist Church-affiliated institutions and agencies, including hospitals, homes, schools, and universities to adopt and uphold the standards set forth in this resolution, and to support research on positive treatment methods.
We call upon federal, state, and local governments to end immediately the expenditure of public revenues on any agency or program which fails to adopt and uphold the standards set forth in this resolution.
The United Methodist Church declares itself to be open to persons with mental disabilities and their families, commits itself to support such persons and families and accommodate their needs within our community. We further pledge our support to help persons with mental disabilities and their families find appropriate services, programs, and supports, and to protect them from abusive treatment methods.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 20860-GM-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference