[Social medical themes and the health intervention: violence against women in the professional's discourse].

This study deals with violence against women as a health care matter. It was part of a research in public services of São Paulo (Brazil), including the prevalence of violence among users from 15 to 49 years old; the study of their medical records; the description of the services; and interview with 50 professionals, focusing the routine and the ideals of health work, the perception on the existence of violence cases, the offer of assistance or its obstacles and the representations on violence. This article analyses the content of the professional narratives and uses the other data to characterise the assistance context. Confirming the literature, violence was almost always regarded as a relevant problem but outside the professional's intervention boundaries. Isolated actions and in a personal basis were reported. Fear and professional impotence were mentioned, but none positive aspect for potential interventions. The professionals showed lack of knowledge of specialized reference services. In conclusion, the difficulties in the acceptance of violence cases should be worked in three dimensions: the narrow definition of professionals' competence that excludes violence as an object; the absence of technological definitions for professional actions; and effective support in their services

Direitos das pessoas com transtorno mental autoras de delitos The rights of criminally insane individuals

O Movimento pela Reforma Psiquiátrica tem subsidiado propostas de reorientação do modelo assistencial hegemônico em saúde mental. Para a assistência às pessoas com transtorno mental autoras de delitos instituiu-se o manicômio judiciário, atualmente denominado Hospital de Custódia e Tratamento Psiquiátrico (HCTP). A manutenção dessa estrutura, reconhecida como instituição total, tem reforçado a exclusão individual, limitando a reinserção social dos internos. Este artigo discute o direito à saúde nos HCTP na perspectiva dos direitos humanos. Os avanços conferidos pela Política Nacional de Saúde Mental não têm contemplado a reorientação da prática assistencial desenvolvida no âmbito do HCTP. Essa instituição tem preservado o seu caráter asilar/segregacionista, evidenciando uma tradição fundada na negação dos direitos humanos. O avanço normativo não consolida, de per si, a materialização das recentes conquistas advindas a partir da Reforma Psiquiátrica, particularmente quanto ao segmento das pessoas com transtorno mental autoras de delitos. O Estado, em co-responsabilidade com a sociedade, deve promover a efetiva reorientação do modelo de atenção à saúde dessas pessoas, cuja responsabilidade penal deverá ser reconhecida ao tempo em que se propicie o tratamento especializado. O respeito aos direitos humanos não implica a inimputabilidade.<br>The Psychiatric Reform Movement has supported proposals to reorient the hegemonic mental health care model. In Brazil, a facility for the criminally insane was created, called the Custody and Psychiatric Treatment Hospital (CPTH). The maintenance of such a structure, known as total institutionalization, has reinforced individual exclusion, limiting the patients' social rehabilitation. This article discusses the right to health in the CPTH from a human rights perspective. The advances achieved in Brazil under the National Mental Health Policy have failed to include reorientation of the care provided in such facilities for the criminally insane. The institution has remained an isolationist asylum, reflecting a historical denial of human rights. Progress in policy, per se, does not guarantee the materialization of recent strides gained through the Psychiatric Reform, particularly in relation to criminals with mental disorders. The state, through shared responsibility with society, should promote the effective reorientation of the health care model for these individuals, whose criminal responsibility should be acknowledged, while providing simultaneously for specialized care. Respect for human rights is not synonymous with impunity