June Medical Services, LLC, et al. v. Stephen Russo, Interim Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
Country: United StatesYear: 2020
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Citation: 591 US (2020)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to health, Right to liberty and security of person, Right to privacy
In 2014, the legislature in Louisiana passed Act 620 which requires any doctor who performs abortions in Louisiana to have admitting privileges at a hospital no more than 30 miles from where the abortion is performed. Admitting privileges is defined as being “a member in good standing” of the hospital’s “medical staff…with the ability to …Read more
Burns v. Cline, Oklahoma Commissioner of Health
Country: United StatesYear: 2016
Court: The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma
Citation: 2016 OK 99
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health information, Hospitals, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to bodily integrity, Right to privacy
The plaintiffs challenges several sections under the Oklahoma Code stating that it imposed unreasonable restrictions on abortion providers and therefore was in violation of the Oklahoma constitution. Amongst the measure the plaintiffs challenged, one of the sections allowed warrantless searches of abortion clinics. Other sections imposed strict requirements such as preserving tissue in case the …Read more
Whole Woman’s Health Et Al. V. Hellerstedt, Commissioner, Texas Department Of State Health Services, Et Al.
Country: United StatesYear: 2016
Court: The Supreme Court of the United States
Citation: 579 U.S. ___ (2016)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to bodily integrity, Right to health
In 2013, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2 (H.B. 2), which contained several provisions, which restricted access to abortion. One such requirement was that a doctor must have admitted privileges at a hospital within 30 miles and further every health facility offering abortion services must become mini hospitals as ambulatory surgical centers. A group …Read more
Writ Of Habeas Corpus 124.306 Rio De Janeiro STATE
Country: BrazilYear: 2016
Court: Supreme Federal Court of Brazil
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Health care and health services, Hospitals, Prisons, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to bodily integrity
The writ of Habeas Corpus was brought for the release of the defendants who were arrested for providing illegal abortion services through their clinic with the consent of the women. The Criminal District Court released the defendants but allowed the appeal of the Public Prosecutor for a pre-trial detention. The decision was based on the …Read more
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Inquiry concerning the Philippines
Country: PhilippinesYear: 2015
Court: UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Citation: CEDAW/C/OP.8/PHL/1
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to health, Right to life
An executive order was passed in Manila by the local authorities stating that it would take an affirmative stand on pro-life issues. In 1991, Philippines had delegated the issue of people’s health and safety to the local authorities therefore they could make policy decisions such as family planning services, population and health services. The Executive …Read more
Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya) & 3 Ors. v. Attorney General & 2 Ors.
Country: KenyaYear: 2015
Court: High Court at Nairobi
Citation: Petition No. 266 of 2015
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Medicines, Sexual and reproductive health
The Director of Medical Services issued a letter on December 3, 2013 and a memo on February 24, 2014 to “All Health Workers” that directed them not to participate in training on safe abortion practice and threatened legal action for non-compliance. The Federation of Women Lawyers filed suit, stating that the letter and memo had …Read more
In the Matter of the Law on Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland
Country: United KingdomYear: 2015
Court: The High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland, Queen’s Bench Division
Citation: [2015] NIQB 96; 2014 No. 125661/01
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Disabilities, Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Informed consent, Sexual and reproductive health, Violence
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to life, Right to privacy
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (“Commission”) brought an application alleging that the rights of women in Northern Ireland who are or become pregnant with a serious malformation of the fetus (SMF), fatal fetal abnormality (FFA) or who are pregnant as a result of sexual crimes were being breached by Section 58 and Section 59 …Read more
Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest v. Streur, et al.
Country: United StatesYear: 2015
Court: Superior Court for the State of Alaska
Citation: No. 3AN-14-04711 CI (Alaska Super. 2015)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Poverty, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination
The case concerned an Alaskan regulation that restricted low-income women from accessing medically necessary abortion care under Medicaid, in particular over the definition of “medically necessary” abortions. The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) had funded such abortions after a 2001ruling from the Supreme Court of Alaska struck down a regulation that restricted state-funded …Read more
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, et al. v. Iowa Board of Medicine
Country: United StatesYear: 2015
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Citation: 865 N.W.2d 252 (Iowa 2015)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Medicines, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to privacy
This case challenged rules adopted by the Iowa Board of Medicine (“Board”) regarding medicated abortions provided via telemedicine. Starting in 2008, doctors in Iowa at Planned Parenthood began performing abortions via telemedicine. The abortions were performed using mifepristone, a drug that that can be taken orally that terminates a pregnancy, and misoprostol, another oral drug …Read more
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
Country: United StatesYear: 2014
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: 573 U.S. ___ (2014)
Health Topics: Health systems and financing, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom of religion
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) imposed an obligation on certain employers to provide “‘preventive care and screenings’ for women without ‘any cost sharing requirements.’” Under that law, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) imposed a regulation that the preventive care includes 20 types of contraceptives. Four of those …Read more