Disability and citizenship

Mental health of the President of the Republic: institucional responses and procedural and substantive standards of approach


Pablo Marshall y Camila Troncoso


Points of interest:

  • The article analyzes what would happen in Chile if the President of the Republic were to experience a mental health issue.
  • It studied the current Chilean law, which states that the Senate is responsible for declaring the president’s incapacity due to a physical or mental impairment.
  • The article reviewed cases from other countries, highlighting the United States, which has more research on mental health and politics.
  • It emphasizes that the stigma associated with mental health problems can negatively influence how these situations are handled.
  • It argues for a more inclusive and respectful view of the human rights of people with mental health issues, including political leaders.
  • The article proposes standards and procedures for this situation that align with international human rights standards.

Notes:

  • The following summary was prepared by Núcleo Milenio DISCA and is based exclusively on the original publication. Therefore, it should not be used for citations or references.
  • This article was originally published in Spanish.


Pablo Marshall, & Camila Troncoso. (2025). La salud mental del Presidente o Presidenta de la República: respuestas institucionales y estándares de abordaje procedimentales y sustantivos. Revista Chilena De Derecho52(2), 89–121. https://doi.org/10.7764/R.522.4


https://ojs.uc.cl/index.php/Rchd/article/view/95586