CFM demonstrates against the end of asylums

The Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) spoke out against the resolution of the National Council of Justice (CNJ), which provides for the closure of judicial asylums. The note, published on Monday (8), is also signed by the Brazilian Association of Psychiatrists (ABP), Brazilian Medical Association (AMB), National Federation of Doctors (Fenam) and Brazilian Medical Federation (FMB).

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According to the note, the measure by the CNJ could endanger society, with social impacts and public safety. “The public health system and the common prison system are not prepared to receive all these people, so there will be abandonment of medical treatment, an increase in violence, an increase in criminals with mental illnesses in common prisons, criminal relapse, among other social damages” .

Medical entities claim that the resolution was not discussed with health experts. The CFM points out that it is necessary to revoke the decision before May 15, the date on which the resolution comes into force.

Read the full note:

Urgent alert to Brazilian society

“Seven days to go, 5,800* criminals (serial killers, murderers, pedophiles, murderers, among others) who are sentenced to prison in Psychiatric Custody Hospitals are released, taking advantage of the provisions of Resolution No. 487 of the National Council of Justice. This document is a danger for the Brazilian population, as it determines the closure of these Custody and Psychiatric Treatment Hospitals and says that all these people (criminals) would return to society and undergo treatment together with the community, if that is what these people want.

Art. 16. Within a period of up to 6 (six) months, counted from the entry into force of this Resolution, the competent judicial authority will review the processes in order to assess the possibility of extinguishing the measure in progress, progression to outpatient treatment in an open environment or transfer to an appropriate health facility, in cases relating to:

I – the execution of a security measure that is being fulfilled in HCTPs, in similar institutions or prison units;

II – to people who remain in these establishments, despite the extinction of the measure or the existence of a conditional discharge order; It is

III – people with mental disorders or psychosocial disabilities who are in procedural custody or serving a sentence in prison units, police stations or similar establishments.

We doctors were not consulted about this measure that will bring profound changes to Brazilian public mental health and also to public safety, but we got together and came publicly, once again, to demonstrate against Resolution No. 487.

That’s a lot of alerts! The public health system and the common prison system are not prepared to receive all these people, so there will be abandonment of medical treatment, increase in violence, increase in criminals with mental illnesses in common prisons, criminal relapse, among other social damages.

We are facing a calamitous and urgent situation, because from May 15, 2023, the Resolution will start to be valid and nothing else can be done, so we need this decision to be revoked “.

Source: Prison System in Numbers Report, by the National Council of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, 2021.

May 8, 2023.

Federal Council of Medicine (CFM)
Brazilian Association of Psychiatrists (ABP)
Brazilian Medical Association (AMB)
National Federation of Physicians (Fenam)
Brazilian Medical Federation (FMB)