Many new regulations on conditions and standards for psychiatric examiners

Many new regulations regarding the qualifications and standards for psychiatric assessors.

The Ministry of Health has just issued Circular No. 22/2025/TT-BYT, effective from August 15th, stipulating the standards for appointing forensic examiners and forensic psychiatric examiners.

According to regulations, expert appraisers must demonstrate responsibility, dedication, creativity, discipline, and impartiality; use the law as a standard for handling their work; be objective and fair in conducting appraisals; resolutely fight against all acts that infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of the people; frankly defend what is right and just; not show favoritism, avoid responsibility, or cover up in the performance of their professional duties; not be authoritarian, arrogant, or abuse their position and authority for corruption or personal gain; constantly learn and improve their political and legal awareness; regularly maintain, cultivate, and refine their ethics, character, and lifestyle, demonstrating the standards, strictness, and fairness of the law.

The Ministry of Health has issued more specific and stringent regulations on the standards for appointing forensic examiners.

Along with ethical requirements, the new circular also specifies and tightens regulations on professional qualifications. Accordingly, forensic examiners are required to have a university degree in medicine. If examining toxicology, a degree in chemistry or pharmacy according to the new training code is mandatory. For biomedical examiners, a degree in biology or applied biology is required. For forensic psychiatric examiners, in addition to a university degree in medicine, they must also have a Level I specialist qualification (or equivalent) in psychiatry. Regarding experience, examiners must have at least 5 years of practical experience in a relevant professional field, with a gap of no more than 2 years.

Many officials and staff members of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry have been prosecuted and detained for violating the law.

Recently, following the case in which 36 officials and staff members of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry were prosecuted and detained by the Hanoi City Police for the crimes of "illegally possessing narcotics, organizing the illegal use of narcotics, giving bribes, receiving bribes, brokering bribes, and abusing their positions and authority in the performance of their duties," the Permanent Deputy Minister of Health, Do Xuan Tuyen, stated that, in order to quickly stabilize the organizational structure at the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, the Ministry of Health has closely coordinated with the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Hanoi City Police, directing the institute to cooperate closely with relevant agencies to provide complete files and documents, as well as creating conditions for the relevant individuals to work with the investigating agency, so that the investigating agency can collect documents and evidence, conclude correctly, and ensure objectivity, and bring the case to a swift conclusion.

In the first half of July, the Ministry of Health will finalize the leadership positions at the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry to ensure a leader to maintain the unit's operations and stabilize the morale of its staff.

MINH KHANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nhieu-quy-dinh-moi-ve-dieu-kien-tieu-chuan-giam-dinh-vien-tam-than-post802830.html