The draft mental health law, which was published by the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office and released for a one-month public consultation, has raised widespread concern

The high degree of concern is unsurprising because the legislative process for the proposed law was launched in 1985, lasted 26 years and has undergone 10 revisions.

During the uncommonly long period, establishing a legal basis for the medical treatment and protection of rights for mentally challenged people has remained in a vacuum due to the great inconsistency of views among various advocates.