Therefore, the content analyses of these concepts are to intend and to disclose the usage of health care terminologies some problematic aspects. The research is relevant and at the theoretical level. For the first time in the Health law doctrine of Lithuania is systematically analyzing the questions of mental health terminology legislation.
Therefore, the content analyses of these concepts are to intend and to disclose the usage of health care terminologies some problematic aspects. The research is relevant and at the theoretical level. For the first time in the Health law doctrine of Lithuania is systematically analyzing the questions of mental health terminology legislation.
Aim of work – To explore the employment peculiarities and opportunities of young people with light mental disabilities in Kaunas city. Tasks: 1. To find out the employers' attitude to the participation of young people with light mental disabilities in work activity. 2. To analyse opportunities and possibilities of young people with light mental disabilities to participate in work activity. 3. To find out the employers' opinion about the possibilities of solving the problems related with employment of people with light mental disabilities. Methods of work: A questionnaire, intended to analyse employers' attitude to the employment of people with light mental disabilities. 58 companies' executives of 81 (71.6%) have been questioned. Questionnaire data were analyzed using package of statistical data analysis SPSS. A qualitative study – nonstandardized interview, which was attended by 5 employers. Data have been analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results. Attitude of 70.7% employers to the person with light mental disability is positive; 37.9% would employ them; 51.7% state, that can be useful; 22.4% would employ because of positive attitude; 17.2% - because of benefit. 43.1% think that health allow to work. 60.3% - can ensure working conditions; 53.3% state that other employees consider them as members of team. 48.2% think that work market is closed for disabled people. 48.3% think that health and quality of life are affected by work positively. After doing the qualitative study, it was found, that the role of the state and the financing is not sufficient; the attitude of the public is ambiguous; the professional preparation and work experience of disabled are not sufficient; there is lack of information and publicity. Conclusions. 1. The attitude of most employers to the person with light mental disability is positive, but just third of employers would employ them. Employers more often would employ because of positive personal attitude and financial profit to the company. Almost half of employers value their work as qualitative and useful. Half of employers claim, that people with light mental disability can useful for the company. And just one tenth of employers think that professional preparation is suitable. 2. Health of people with light mental disability allows them to work and work affects positively their health and quality of life. Ambiguous attitude to light mental disability dominate in the society; politics and strategy of state do not ensure the employment of these people. More than half of companies where disabled are working/have worked can ensure working conditions for disabled. Most of the companies do not apply means of adaptation. Almost half of employers think that Lithuanian work market is closed for disabled people. 3. Problems of employment of people with light mental disability can be solved with complex means: active state politics; positive attitude of society and employers; appropriate professional preparation and work experience; financing and support to the companies; availability of information and publicity.
Aim of work – To explore the employment peculiarities and opportunities of young people with light mental disabilities in Kaunas city. Tasks: 1. To find out the employers' attitude to the participation of young people with light mental disabilities in work activity. 2. To analyse opportunities and possibilities of young people with light mental disabilities to participate in work activity. 3. To find out the employers' opinion about the possibilities of solving the problems related with employment of people with light mental disabilities. Methods of work: A questionnaire, intended to analyse employers' attitude to the employment of people with light mental disabilities. 58 companies' executives of 81 (71.6%) have been questioned. Questionnaire data were analyzed using package of statistical data analysis SPSS. A qualitative study – nonstandardized interview, which was attended by 5 employers. Data have been analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results. Attitude of 70.7% employers to the person with light mental disability is positive; 37.9% would employ them; 51.7% state, that can be useful; 22.4% would employ because of positive attitude; 17.2% - because of benefit. 43.1% think that health allow to work. 60.3% - can ensure working conditions; 53.3% state that other employees consider them as members of team. 48.2% think that work market is closed for disabled people. 48.3% think that health and quality of life are affected by work positively. After doing the qualitative study, it was found, that the role of the state and the financing is not sufficient; the attitude of the public is ambiguous; the professional preparation and work experience of disabled are not sufficient; there is lack of information and publicity. Conclusions. 1. The attitude of most employers to the person with light mental disability is positive, but just third of employers would employ them. Employers more often would employ because of positive personal attitude and financial profit to the company. Almost half of employers value their work as qualitative and useful. Half of employers claim, that people with light mental disability can useful for the company. And just one tenth of employers think that professional preparation is suitable. 2. Health of people with light mental disability allows them to work and work affects positively their health and quality of life. Ambiguous attitude to light mental disability dominate in the society; politics and strategy of state do not ensure the employment of these people. More than half of companies where disabled are working/have worked can ensure working conditions for disabled. Most of the companies do not apply means of adaptation. Almost half of employers think that Lithuanian work market is closed for disabled people. 3. Problems of employment of people with light mental disability can be solved with complex means: active state politics; positive attitude of society and employers; appropriate professional preparation and work experience; financing and support to the companies; availability of information and publicity.
Quality of life - is a concept of economics, sociology and political science that encompasses a person's spiritual (emotional), social and physical wellfare. The most important determinants of the quality of life of people with mental disabilities are physical and mental health, financial situation, living conditions and their suitability, family influence, social relations (social assistance and interpersonal relationships), free time, participation in community activities, spiritual activities and meeting individual needs. Individuals with mental illness are more sensitive and more vulnerable, their optimal functioning in society is more or less impaired, their ability to perform certain activities is reduced, their independence is weakened, and a person is usually unable to perform his or her normal roles. The unmet basic social and functional needs of people with mental disabilities lead to a poor quality of life. Professionally provided services, self-development can greatly improve the opportunities of these people, increase their self-confidence and create conditions for independent living. Research problematic problem. Statistics show that the number of people with mental disabilities is increasing every year. Persons with this disability group constantly experience stigma, face health and employment problems, and have difficulty integrating into the labor market. They have communication problems, weak and superficial relationships with family members, and a small number of friends. Therefore, only by ensuring the independence of these people, the right to social life, family relations, education, entry into the labor market, involvement in the daily life of society, creativity and various activities would have a positive impact on their quality of life. Research questions. How does the availability of services affect the quality of life? What impact do social connections have on quality of life? What influence does a person's quality of life have on a psychological state? How can work affect a person's quality of life? Research object. The quality of life of people having mental disabilities. Hypothesis - Ensured access to services can have a positive impact on the quality of life of people with a mental disability and living independently. Research goal - to assess the quality of life of people with mental disabilities. Tasks: 1. To analyze the factors determining the quality of life, and to single out the possibilities of independence and social assistance of persons in a mental situation. 2. Using the questionnaire method to reveal the significance of participation in employment activities for the quality of life 3. With the method of interview, using content analysis, to identify how people with mental disabiliti 4. To carry out an analysis of the supply of social services that improve the quality of life of persons in a situation of mental disability and to present development opportunities.
Quality of life - is a concept of economics, sociology and political science that encompasses a person's spiritual (emotional), social and physical wellfare. The most important determinants of the quality of life of people with mental disabilities are physical and mental health, financial situation, living conditions and their suitability, family influence, social relations (social assistance and interpersonal relationships), free time, participation in community activities, spiritual activities and meeting individual needs. Individuals with mental illness are more sensitive and more vulnerable, their optimal functioning in society is more or less impaired, their ability to perform certain activities is reduced, their independence is weakened, and a person is usually unable to perform his or her normal roles. The unmet basic social and functional needs of people with mental disabilities lead to a poor quality of life. Professionally provided services, self-development can greatly improve the opportunities of these people, increase their self-confidence and create conditions for independent living. Research problematic problem. Statistics show that the number of people with mental disabilities is increasing every year. Persons with this disability group constantly experience stigma, face health and employment problems, and have difficulty integrating into the labor market. They have communication problems, weak and superficial relationships with family members, and a small number of friends. Therefore, only by ensuring the independence of these people, the right to social life, family relations, education, entry into the labor market, involvement in the daily life of society, creativity and various activities would have a positive impact on their quality of life. Research questions. How does the availability of services affect the quality of life? What impact do social connections have on quality of life? What influence does a person's quality of life have on a psychological state? How can work affect a person's quality of life? Research object. The quality of life of people having mental disabilities. Hypothesis - Ensured access to services can have a positive impact on the quality of life of people with a mental disability and living independently. Research goal - to assess the quality of life of people with mental disabilities. Tasks: 1. To analyze the factors determining the quality of life, and to single out the possibilities of independence and social assistance of persons in a mental situation. 2. Using the questionnaire method to reveal the significance of participation in employment activities for the quality of life 3. With the method of interview, using content analysis, to identify how people with mental disabiliti 4. To carry out an analysis of the supply of social services that improve the quality of life of persons in a situation of mental disability and to present development opportunities.
Quality of life - is a concept of economics, sociology and political science that encompasses a person's spiritual (emotional), social and physical wellfare. The most important determinants of the quality of life of people with mental disabilities are physical and mental health, financial situation, living conditions and their suitability, family influence, social relations (social assistance and interpersonal relationships), free time, participation in community activities, spiritual activities and meeting individual needs. Individuals with mental illness are more sensitive and more vulnerable, their optimal functioning in society is more or less impaired, their ability to perform certain activities is reduced, their independence is weakened, and a person is usually unable to perform his or her normal roles. The unmet basic social and functional needs of people with mental disabilities lead to a poor quality of life. Professionally provided services, self-development can greatly improve the opportunities of these people, increase their self-confidence and create conditions for independent living. Research problematic problem. Statistics show that the number of people with mental disabilities is increasing every year. Persons with this disability group constantly experience stigma, face health and employment problems, and have difficulty integrating into the labor market. They have communication problems, weak and superficial relationships with family members, and a small number of friends. Therefore, only by ensuring the independence of these people, the right to social life, family relations, education, entry into the labor market, involvement in the daily life of society, creativity and various activities would have a positive impact on their quality of life. Research questions. How does the availability of services affect the quality of life? What impact do social connections have on quality of life? What influence does a person's quality of life have on a psychological state? How can work affect a person's quality of life? Research object. The quality of life of people having mental disabilities. Hypothesis - Ensured access to services can have a positive impact on the quality of life of people with a mental disability and living independently. Research goal - to assess the quality of life of people with mental disabilities. Tasks: 1. To analyze the factors determining the quality of life, and to single out the possibilities of independence and social assistance of persons in a mental situation. 2. Using the questionnaire method to reveal the significance of participation in employment activities for the quality of life 3. With the method of interview, using content analysis, to identify how people with mental disabiliti 4. To carry out an analysis of the supply of social services that improve the quality of life of persons in a situation of mental disability and to present development opportunities.
Quality of life - is a concept of economics, sociology and political science that encompasses a person's spiritual (emotional), social and physical wellfare. The most important determinants of the quality of life of people with mental disabilities are physical and mental health, financial situation, living conditions and their suitability, family influence, social relations (social assistance and interpersonal relationships), free time, participation in community activities, spiritual activities and meeting individual needs. Individuals with mental illness are more sensitive and more vulnerable, their optimal functioning in society is more or less impaired, their ability to perform certain activities is reduced, their independence is weakened, and a person is usually unable to perform his or her normal roles. The unmet basic social and functional needs of people with mental disabilities lead to a poor quality of life. Professionally provided services, self-development can greatly improve the opportunities of these people, increase their self-confidence and create conditions for independent living. Research problematic problem. Statistics show that the number of people with mental disabilities is increasing every year. Persons with this disability group constantly experience stigma, face health and employment problems, and have difficulty integrating into the labor market. They have communication problems, weak and superficial relationships with family members, and a small number of friends. Therefore, only by ensuring the independence of these people, the right to social life, family relations, education, entry into the labor market, involvement in the daily life of society, creativity and various activities would have a positive impact on their quality of life. Research questions. How does the availability of services affect the quality of life? What impact do social connections have on quality of life? What influence does a person's quality of life have on a psychological state? How can work affect a person's quality of life? Research object. The quality of life of people having mental disabilities. Hypothesis - Ensured access to services can have a positive impact on the quality of life of people with a mental disability and living independently. Research goal - to assess the quality of life of people with mental disabilities. Tasks: 1. To analyze the factors determining the quality of life, and to single out the possibilities of independence and social assistance of persons in a mental situation. 2. Using the questionnaire method to reveal the significance of participation in employment activities for the quality of life 3. With the method of interview, using content analysis, to identify how people with mental disabiliti 4. To carry out an analysis of the supply of social services that improve the quality of life of persons in a situation of mental disability and to present development opportunities.
According to the research Lithuanian society is intolerable to mentally ill people5. Therefore the main aim of this research was to raise awareness and enhance knowledge about the media representations of mentally ill persons in Lithuania. The method used in this research was quantitative content analysis. 144 articles from national newspapers with some reference to mental illness appearing in the selected newspapers over a period of three months in the fall of 2008 were analyzed. The results of the research have shown that Lithuanian media creates quite negative images of mentally ill - most often it is a male, who has committed a crime, is very detailed indentified in the article and whose opinion/version of the story is not important for the journalist. Mentally ill person is the source of information quite rarely. More often sources of information are the official persons. In most cases mentally ill person does not have a possibility to express his/hers opinion. There are just a few reportages in the analyzed data. This shows that journalists tend to distance themselves from mental health issues. They do not go out to the field to gather data, do not speak to the mentally ill people - it is safer for journalists to keep the distance by just giving references to events and not reporting about them. Very important actor in mental health area that is missing in the articles - is mental health institutions, even thou they dominate the mental health care system. Politics of mental health is not discussed at all in media in Lithuania.
According to the research Lithuanian society is intolerable to mentally ill people5. Therefore the main aim of this research was to raise awareness and enhance knowledge about the media representations of mentally ill persons in Lithuania. The method used in this research was quantitative content analysis. 144 articles from national newspapers with some reference to mental illness appearing in the selected newspapers over a period of three months in the fall of 2008 were analyzed. The results of the research have shown that Lithuanian media creates quite negative images of mentally ill - most often it is a male, who has committed a crime, is very detailed indentified in the article and whose opinion/version of the story is not important for the journalist. Mentally ill person is the source of information quite rarely. More often sources of information are the official persons. In most cases mentally ill person does not have a possibility to express his/hers opinion. There are just a few reportages in the analyzed data. This shows that journalists tend to distance themselves from mental health issues. They do not go out to the field to gather data, do not speak to the mentally ill people - it is safer for journalists to keep the distance by just giving references to events and not reporting about them. Very important actor in mental health area that is missing in the articles - is mental health institutions, even thou they dominate the mental health care system. Politics of mental health is not discussed at all in media in Lithuania.
According to the research Lithuanian society is intolerable to mentally ill people5. Therefore the main aim of this research was to raise awareness and enhance knowledge about the media representations of mentally ill persons in Lithuania. The method used in this research was quantitative content analysis. 144 articles from national newspapers with some reference to mental illness appearing in the selected newspapers over a period of three months in the fall of 2008 were analyzed. The results of the research have shown that Lithuanian media creates quite negative images of mentally ill - most often it is a male, who has committed a crime, is very detailed indentified in the article and whose opinion/version of the story is not important for the journalist. Mentally ill person is the source of information quite rarely. More often sources of information are the official persons. In most cases mentally ill person does not have a possibility to express his/hers opinion. There are just a few reportages in the analyzed data. This shows that journalists tend to distance themselves from mental health issues. They do not go out to the field to gather data, do not speak to the mentally ill people - it is safer for journalists to keep the distance by just giving references to events and not reporting about them. Very important actor in mental health area that is missing in the articles - is mental health institutions, even thou they dominate the mental health care system. Politics of mental health is not discussed at all in media in Lithuania.
According to the research Lithuanian society is intolerable to mentally ill people5. Therefore the main aim of this research was to raise awareness and enhance knowledge about the media representations of mentally ill persons in Lithuania. The method used in this research was quantitative content analysis. 144 articles from national newspapers with some reference to mental illness appearing in the selected newspapers over a period of three months in the fall of 2008 were analyzed. The results of the research have shown that Lithuanian media creates quite negative images of mentally ill - most often it is a male, who has committed a crime, is very detailed indentified in the article and whose opinion/version of the story is not important for the journalist. Mentally ill person is the source of information quite rarely. More often sources of information are the official persons. In most cases mentally ill person does not have a possibility to express his/hers opinion. There are just a few reportages in the analyzed data. This shows that journalists tend to distance themselves from mental health issues. They do not go out to the field to gather data, do not speak to the mentally ill people - it is safer for journalists to keep the distance by just giving references to events and not reporting about them. Very important actor in mental health area that is missing in the articles - is mental health institutions, even thou they dominate the mental health care system. Politics of mental health is not discussed at all in media in Lithuania.
This aim of this Master's thesis is to carry out the analysis of health care quality of people serving imprisonment sentences. There are several works and studies of foreign authors on this theme, however Lithuania is unlikely to have at least one scientific work dealing with health care quality of prisoners. Non-governmental organizations and defenders of human rights draw attention to the serious existing problems of health care quality assurance in places of detention. The existing international, regional and national legislation establish a person's right to health, the best possible mental, emotional and social well-being. The prisoners are not an exception. It is noted that the freedoms of prisoners must be the same, equivalent health care services that are available in the country without discrimination based on their legal status. However, the practice is different. Persons that are in custodial places lose access to health care services that were available to them while they were outside of prison. Often in prison certain health care services are not available, what is more, when a person ends up in an imprisonment institution the treatment given while such person was free is unilaterally terminated and other treatment or no treatment at all is given, as an argument is given legal regulation, the treatment adjustment to the detention regime, as well as the environment. The paper has analyzed in detail the international, regional, national legislation and other documents, as well as case law of Lithuania and European Court of Human Rights relating to legal regulation and guarantee of health care of persons serving imprisonment sentences. In the international and regional level the right to health is established by common principles and standards, and in the national legislation according to the international and regional sources, the organizational features of the person's right to health care are provided in detail. As for the regulation of prisoners' health, it is a bit confusing in the same national law, i.e. the general and special regulations are intertwined. In the national law, in the norms of health protection the assurance features of prisoners' health care are often separately stated, and on the contrary, in some areas the prisoners' health care is determined exclusively by mere general regulation. Also, certain areas are regulated by both the general and the special laws. Concepts of general health health care includes preventive medical care, emergency medical services, diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation, sanatorium treatment, and care. Prisoners' health care is derived from the principle of equality, and the content of this right is analogous to the content of the general concept of health care. Given the conditions of detention, treatment and other factors, the method of provision of these services and their scope may differ. However, these differences must be objectively and reasonably justified. Paper has analyzed the features of prisoner's health care according to the most problematic aspects. This part has been also intended to reveal the basic standards, principles and attitudes describing security of prisoners' health care. The right to quality mental health care is not assured for the persons serving prison sentences. Current legal regulations do not provide treatment according to the individual indications, ignores that individuals with mental illness are more vulnerable, and they need a higher level of constant care. The availability of adequate specialized health care institutions is not assured, the health care institutions of penitentiaries do not have authority to issue instructions for treatment in a specialized institution. Equivalent services are not assured, the general regulation of mental health care is not followed, forced hospitalization in specialized institutions is solved only on the basis of criminal law. It has also been found out that the persons serving imprisonment sentences are not guaranteed access to quality treatment of mental and behavior disorders caused by drugs or psychotropic substances. When a person ends up in an imprisonment institutions the continuity of treatment is not ensured, the treatment is unilaterally terminated by the prison doctor. The availability is not guaranteed, i.e. in places of detention such treatment that is available being free is not available (substitution supportive treatment). The access to rehabilitation for addiction is restricted, there are selection criteria, and violations of procedure deprive a person's right to rehabilitation for one year. Also, the persons serving imprisonment sentences are not guaranteed the right to good quality health care. If the person serving imprisonment sentence was recommended some treatment in a public health institution, but in the prison it is not possible to provide such treatment, it is replaced by a similar treatment or is terminated as unnecessary. Such treatment as rehabilitation is not possible at all. The main finding of the thesis is that health care services are ensured for the prisoners, but their quality is poor. It is officially declared that the health care services of equivalent quality must be available to prisoners as those available outside of prison, it is aimed to formally establish the provision of such services. However, the reality is different. There is stigmatization and discrimination of the prisoners' legal status from not only the prison authorities but also the courts. The equal health care is not ensured, as the existing legal regulation does not provide availability, continuity, and provision of health care services according to indications on individual and environmental factors, does not provide the strategy for health care services (for a dual legal regulation, the general and special, the legal clarity is lost). After a review of the European Court of Human Rights and the sources that discuss the prisoners' health, it must be concluded that because of the conditions of detention and the treatment itself, the objectively and reasonably justified differences in society and in prison in the area of health care vary in their extent, their method and order. However, the principle of equality ensures that the person does not lose the right to adequate, affordable preventive medical care, emergency medical services, diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation, sanatorium treatment, and care. The study leads to the conclusion that the laws of the Republic of Lithuania do not guarantee high-quality health care services for the prisoners.
This aim of this Master's thesis is to carry out the analysis of health care quality of people serving imprisonment sentences. There are several works and studies of foreign authors on this theme, however Lithuania is unlikely to have at least one scientific work dealing with health care quality of prisoners. Non-governmental organizations and defenders of human rights draw attention to the serious existing problems of health care quality assurance in places of detention. The existing international, regional and national legislation establish a person's right to health, the best possible mental, emotional and social well-being. The prisoners are not an exception. It is noted that the freedoms of prisoners must be the same, equivalent health care services that are available in the country without discrimination based on their legal status. However, the practice is different. Persons that are in custodial places lose access to health care services that were available to them while they were outside of prison. Often in prison certain health care services are not available, what is more, when a person ends up in an imprisonment institution the treatment given while such person was free is unilaterally terminated and other treatment or no treatment at all is given, as an argument is given legal regulation, the treatment adjustment to the detention regime, as well as the environment. The paper has analyzed in detail the international, regional, national legislation and other documents, as well as case law of Lithuania and European Court of Human Rights relating to legal regulation and guarantee of health care of persons serving imprisonment sentences. In the international and regional level the right to health is established by common principles and standards, and in the national legislation according to the international and regional sources, the organizational features of the person's right to health care are provided in detail. As for the regulation of prisoners' health, it is a bit confusing in the same national law, i.e. the general and special regulations are intertwined. In the national law, in the norms of health protection the assurance features of prisoners' health care are often separately stated, and on the contrary, in some areas the prisoners' health care is determined exclusively by mere general regulation. Also, certain areas are regulated by both the general and the special laws. Concepts of general health health care includes preventive medical care, emergency medical services, diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation, sanatorium treatment, and care. Prisoners' health care is derived from the principle of equality, and the content of this right is analogous to the content of the general concept of health care. Given the conditions of detention, treatment and other factors, the method of provision of these services and their scope may differ. However, these differences must be objectively and reasonably justified. Paper has analyzed the features of prisoner's health care according to the most problematic aspects. This part has been also intended to reveal the basic standards, principles and attitudes describing security of prisoners' health care. The right to quality mental health care is not assured for the persons serving prison sentences. Current legal regulations do not provide treatment according to the individual indications, ignores that individuals with mental illness are more vulnerable, and they need a higher level of constant care. The availability of adequate specialized health care institutions is not assured, the health care institutions of penitentiaries do not have authority to issue instructions for treatment in a specialized institution. Equivalent services are not assured, the general regulation of mental health care is not followed, forced hospitalization in specialized institutions is solved only on the basis of criminal law. It has also been found out that the persons serving imprisonment sentences are not guaranteed access to quality treatment of mental and behavior disorders caused by drugs or psychotropic substances. When a person ends up in an imprisonment institutions the continuity of treatment is not ensured, the treatment is unilaterally terminated by the prison doctor. The availability is not guaranteed, i.e. in places of detention such treatment that is available being free is not available (substitution supportive treatment). The access to rehabilitation for addiction is restricted, there are selection criteria, and violations of procedure deprive a person's right to rehabilitation for one year. Also, the persons serving imprisonment sentences are not guaranteed the right to good quality health care. If the person serving imprisonment sentence was recommended some treatment in a public health institution, but in the prison it is not possible to provide such treatment, it is replaced by a similar treatment or is terminated as unnecessary. Such treatment as rehabilitation is not possible at all. The main finding of the thesis is that health care services are ensured for the prisoners, but their quality is poor. It is officially declared that the health care services of equivalent quality must be available to prisoners as those available outside of prison, it is aimed to formally establish the provision of such services. However, the reality is different. There is stigmatization and discrimination of the prisoners' legal status from not only the prison authorities but also the courts. The equal health care is not ensured, as the existing legal regulation does not provide availability, continuity, and provision of health care services according to indications on individual and environmental factors, does not provide the strategy for health care services (for a dual legal regulation, the general and special, the legal clarity is lost). After a review of the European Court of Human Rights and the sources that discuss the prisoners' health, it must be concluded that because of the conditions of detention and the treatment itself, the objectively and reasonably justified differences in society and in prison in the area of health care vary in their extent, their method and order. However, the principle of equality ensures that the person does not lose the right to adequate, affordable preventive medical care, emergency medical services, diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation, sanatorium treatment, and care. The study leads to the conclusion that the laws of the Republic of Lithuania do not guarantee high-quality health care services for the prisoners.
This aim of this Master's thesis is to carry out the analysis of health care quality of people serving imprisonment sentences. There are several works and studies of foreign authors on this theme, however Lithuania is unlikely to have at least one scientific work dealing with health care quality of prisoners. Non-governmental organizations and defenders of human rights draw attention to the serious existing problems of health care quality assurance in places of detention. The existing international, regional and national legislation establish a person's right to health, the best possible mental, emotional and social well-being. The prisoners are not an exception. It is noted that the freedoms of prisoners must be the same, equivalent health care services that are available in the country without discrimination based on their legal status. However, the practice is different. Persons that are in custodial places lose access to health care services that were available to them while they were outside of prison. Often in prison certain health care services are not available, what is more, when a person ends up in an imprisonment institution the treatment given while such person was free is unilaterally terminated and other treatment or no treatment at all is given, as an argument is given legal regulation, the treatment adjustment to the detention regime, as well as the environment. The paper has analyzed in detail the international, regional, national legislation and other documents, as well as case law of Lithuania and European Court of Human Rights relating to legal regulation and guarantee of health care of persons serving imprisonment sentences. In the international and regional level the right to health is established by common principles and standards, and in the national legislation according to the international and regional sources, the organizational features of the person's right to health care are provided in detail. As for the regulation of prisoners' health, it is a bit confusing in the same national law, i.e. the general and special regulations are intertwined. In the national law, in the norms of health protection the assurance features of prisoners' health care are often separately stated, and on the contrary, in some areas the prisoners' health care is determined exclusively by mere general regulation. Also, certain areas are regulated by both the general and the special laws. Concepts of general health health care includes preventive medical care, emergency medical services, diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation, sanatorium treatment, and care. Prisoners' health care is derived from the principle of equality, and the content of this right is analogous to the content of the general concept of health care. Given the conditions of detention, treatment and other factors, the method of provision of these services and their scope may differ. However, these differences must be objectively and reasonably justified. Paper has analyzed the features of prisoner's health care according to the most problematic aspects. This part has been also intended to reveal the basic standards, principles and attitudes describing security of prisoners' health care. The right to quality mental health care is not assured for the persons serving prison sentences. Current legal regulations do not provide treatment according to the individual indications, ignores that individuals with mental illness are more vulnerable, and they need a higher level of constant care. The availability of adequate specialized health care institutions is not assured, the health care institutions of penitentiaries do not have authority to issue instructions for treatment in a specialized institution. Equivalent services are not assured, the general regulation of mental health care is not followed, forced hospitalization in specialized institutions is solved only on the basis of criminal law. It has also been found out that the persons serving imprisonment sentences are not guaranteed access to quality treatment of mental and behavior disorders caused by drugs or psychotropic substances. When a person ends up in an imprisonment institutions the continuity of treatment is not ensured, the treatment is unilaterally terminated by the prison doctor. The availability is not guaranteed, i.e. in places of detention such treatment that is available being free is not available (substitution supportive treatment). The access to rehabilitation for addiction is restricted, there are selection criteria, and violations of procedure deprive a person's right to rehabilitation for one year. Also, the persons serving imprisonment sentences are not guaranteed the right to good quality health care. If the person serving imprisonment sentence was recommended some treatment in a public health institution, but in the prison it is not possible to provide such treatment, it is replaced by a similar treatment or is terminated as unnecessary. Such treatment as rehabilitation is not possible at all. The main finding of the thesis is that health care services are ensured for the prisoners, but their quality is poor. It is officially declared that the health care services of equivalent quality must be available to prisoners as those available outside of prison, it is aimed to formally establish the provision of such services. However, the reality is different. There is stigmatization and discrimination of the prisoners' legal status from not only the prison authorities but also the courts. The equal health care is not ensured, as the existing legal regulation does not provide availability, continuity, and provision of health care services according to indications on individual and environmental factors, does not provide the strategy for health care services (for a dual legal regulation, the general and special, the legal clarity is lost). After a review of the European Court of Human Rights and the sources that discuss the prisoners' health, it must be concluded that because of the conditions of detention and the treatment itself, the objectively and reasonably justified differences in society and in prison in the area of health care vary in their extent, their method and order. However, the principle of equality ensures that the person does not lose the right to adequate, affordable preventive medical care, emergency medical services, diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation, sanatorium treatment, and care. The study leads to the conclusion that the laws of the Republic of Lithuania do not guarantee high-quality health care services for the prisoners.
