People with mental illness need better, all-round care

Editor's Note: A 9-year-old boy was beaten to death by a 30-year-old man with a history of schizophrenia near his home in Changsha, Hunan province, on Nov 5. That the suspect may not be held responsible for the criminal act as he is mentally ill has triggered a heated debate online, especially because the incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks involving people with mental health problems in recent years. Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Yao Yuxin. Excerpts follow:

Take measures to prevent attacks

With netizens getting increasingly incensed at the thought of the 30-year-old suspect not receiving due legal punishment as he is mentally ill, it should be made clear that not all people with mental health problems can be exempted from criminal accountability. Only those offenders who, due to their mental condition, lose complete control of their mind when committing a crime can be exempted from criminal responsibility. So we should wait for the experts' report on the suspect's mental condition before jumping to any conclusion.