Statement by Council on Psychiatric Practice and Training in British multi-ethnic society

doi:10.1192/pb.14.7.432

Abstract

Racial discrimination and prejudice are endemic in all societies. Strangers, people of different appearance or habits, evoke strong and mixed feelings. Their poverty may be seen as “a burden on society”, their ability as “a conspiracy to take us over”, and their unfamiliarity as “diluting our island heritage”. Immigrant groups may hold equally distorted views about their indigenous hosts.

Highlights

This Special Committee was established by Council in 1987 with the following terms of reference: (a) To explore issues attending the training ofpsychiatrists and the practice of psychiatry in British multi-ethnic society
Members of the Committee were nominated by Council and by the Specialist Sections and Collegiate Trainees' Committee (Appendix 1)
The Committee's Report was presented to Council in June 1989

Summary

Introduction

This Special Committee was established by Council in 1987 with the following terms of reference:. (b) To investigate the problems of discrimination against trainees, other doctors in psychiatry andpatients on the grounds ofrace and to make recommendations. Members of the Committee were nominated by Council and by the Specialist Sections and Collegiate Trainees' Committee (Appendix 1). The Committee's Report was presented to Council in June 1989. Council received the Report and expressed great appreciation for the work of the Committee which had tackled an important and contentious subject. The Report was distributed for comment to all College Committees and Divisions and Sections. In addition a notice was placed in the Bulletin saying that the Report and its appendices were available free to all members. The present statement is based on a collation of all comments received

General comments

The College