After the First World War was ended, the League of Nations Health Organization was formed. This was a health body crafted under the instruments of the League of Nations that had earlier been formed to prohibit the outbreak of another war (Burci & Vignes, 2004).
It is profound to note that the post world war era was faced with myriads of challenges such as lack of adequate health facilities, poorly growing economies and also weak democracies. Therefore, there was a need to set up various agencies under the League of Nations that would foresee the socio-economic wellbeing of the ravaged world population.
The main covenant of the league was to promote good health by devising ways of controlling and preventing various infections. However, the advent of the Second World War significantly interfered with the overall performance of the health above agency. As a result, the UN relief and rehabilitation administration was compelled to come up with viable health measures that would save the growing world population.
This explains the reason why the United Nations Conference on International Organization was held shortly after the end of the Second World War (Burci & Vignes, 2004). There were several references to health that were made at this conference. For instance, the meeting resolved that a global health body would be set up.
Consequently, the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations assisted in developing the overall policy document and constitution of the newly created body (World Health Organization) in 1946. The title “international” was replaced with the word “world.”
In terms of structure, it is profound to note that the United Nations Development Group is part and parcel of the World Health Organization. It had up to 194 member states by the close of the year 2012. All the member states of the UN belong to the World Health Organization except states such as Niue, Cook Islands, and Liechtenstein.
States which do not enjoy adequate diplomatic recognition have not been included in the membership structure of the World Health Organization. The World Health Assembly is the key body that makes vital decisions on behalf of WHO. As such, the delegations are usually appointed to this assembly by the respective member states of the world health organization.
Moreover, the World Health Organization has a formal relationship with the UN observer agencies such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the UN observer organizations International Committee of the Red Cross. Geneva is the current headquarters of the World Health Organization.
It is also vital to mention that the legislative roles of the WHO are executed by the World Health Assembly. The director general is also appointed by the assembly on a regular length of five years. During the meetings, the assembly concentrates on issues related to finance and policy frameworks of the overall health agency.
For instance, the agency’s budget is usually drafted and reviewed by the assembly courtesy of the delegated members of the WHO member states. Also, the Executive Board’s reports are usually reviewed and endorsed by the assembly. The assembly is also mandated to offer additional recommendations whenever it deems fit to do so.
The board mainly plays the roles of facilitating the duties of the assembly, advising the assembly and executing certain policy decisions (Burci & Vignes, 2004). One of the recent efforts made by the agency was the clinical trials that were carried out in 2009 to control the influenza pandemic. The discovery of the H1N1 influenza virus was a major effort towards curbing the spread of this outbreak.
Mentally ill persons have basic rights as enshrined in the federal constitution of the United States. To begin with, such individuals are supposed to be given prompt medical attention after being admitted in a healthcare facility. The treatment plan should also be elaborate enough for the affected person in the sense that such services should be reviewed regularly before the patient can be finally discharged from a health facility (Mental Health America of Central Virginia, n.d).
They also have the right to be supplied with adequate information on the progress of their treatment as well as how their treatment plans are being revised periodically. The latter should also entail the planning of services to be offered to the mentally ill persons.
Mentally ill patients can also decide to refuse treatment since the federal constitution guarantees them the right to choose. However, this provision may be revoked if the patient is in an emergency condition that requires urgent redress. Also, the existing rule of law may also hinder the application of this basic right of mentally ill patients especially in cases where such a constitutional provision may jeopardize the well being of other people.
A mentally ill patient has the right to refuse taking part in any clinical experiment especially if there is no prior written consent from the affected person. The patient cannot be coerced into such a practice (Mental Health America of Central Virginia, n.d). He or she can also revoke any consent made earlier in regards to taking part in clinical trials.
Individuals who are mentally ill cannot be secluded or restraint under any circumstances since they also enjoy the right to freedom in such cases. However, an emergency may deny them this type of freedom as enshrined in the constitution (Mental Health America of Central Virginia, n.d).
References
Burci, G. L. & Vignes C. (2004). World Health Organization. The Hague: Kluwer Law International.
Mental Health America of Central Virginia. Bill of Rights for Mentally Ill Patient. Web.