Re Woolley, ex parte Applicants M276
Country: AustraliaYear: 2004
Court: High Court
Citation: (2004) 225 CLR 1; (2004) 80 ALD 1; (2004) 210 ALR 369; (2004) 79 ALJR 43; (2004) 32 Fam LR 180; [2004] HCA 49
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Infectious diseases, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of expression, Freedom of religion, Right to liberty and security of person
The Applicants were four Afghani children who arrived in Australia with their parents as “unlawful non-citizens” (a person who is in the migration zone who is not an Australian citizen and who does not hold a valid visa) according to the Migration Act 1958 (the Act). The family was placed in immigration detention pursuant to …Read more
Purohit and Moore v. The Gambia
Country: The GambiaYear: 2003
Court: African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Citation: Communication No. 241/2001
Health Topics: Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
Complainants P and M were mental health advocates, who brought the complaint on behalf of patients detained at Campama, a psychiatric unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital, and existing and future mental health patients detained under the Mental Health Acts of the Republic of The Gambia. Complainants alleged that legislation governing mental health in The …Read more
C. v. Australia
Country: AustraliaYear: 2002
Court: United Nations Human Rights Committee
Citation: U.N. H.R. Comm., U.N. Doc. CCPR/76/D/900/1999 (Nov. 13, 2002).
Health Topics: Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
Petitioner claimed a breach of Article 7 (freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment) and Article 9, particularly Article 9(1) (right to liberty and security of person) and Article 9(4) (a person deprived of liberty’s right to fair trial) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) when he was …Read more
Anderson and Ors. v. Scottish Ministers and Anr.
Country: United KingdomYear: 2001
Court: Privy Council
Citation: [2001] UKPC D5
Health Topics: Mental health, Public safety
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
The three applicants were mental patients held in state hospitals who had been convicted of homicide. At the time of their convictions, the medical view was that all psychiatric conditions were treatable to an extent. However, relevant medical knowledge had moved on, and medical advice was now that the conditions of the three applicants were …Read more
Keenan v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 2001
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 27229/95, 33 Eur. H.R. Rep. 913 (2001).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Medical malpractice, Medicines, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of movement and residence, Right to bodily integrity, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to life
The applicant brought an action on behalf of her mentally ill son, Mark Keenan, who killed himself in prison, alleging the State was in violation of Articles 2 (right to life), 3 (prohibition of torture) and 13 (right to an effective remedy) of the European Convention. The applicant alleged that her son, who was known …Read more
Case 240-2000
Country: El SalvadorYear: 2000
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: No. 240-2000
Health Topics: Hospitals, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to liberty and security of person
The petitioner challenged an order by the lower court allowing his continued detention in a psychiatric hospital. A psychiatrist who had examined him stated that he could make a full recovery through outpatient treatment and did not need to remain detained. The lower court had upheld his detention because he was diagnosed with undifferentiated schizophrenia …Read more
Croke v.Ireland
Country: IrelandYear: 2000
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: [2000] EHCR 33267/96
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to liberty and security of person
The applicant, Mr. Croke filed a complaint under Article of the European Convention on Human Rights about the absence of an independent and automatic review prior to or immediately after his initial detention in a psychiatric hospital and about the absence of a periodic, independent and automatic review of his detention thereafter. In the early …Read more
Kudla v. Poland
Country: PolandYear: 2000
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 30210/96, 35 Eur. H.R. Rep. 198 (2000).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to bodily integrity, Right to due process/fair trial
Applicant, a Polish national suffering from chronic depression, alleged violations of Articles 3 (prohibition of torture), 5.3 (trial within a reasonable time), 6.1 (unreasonably long proceedings), and 13 (effective remedy) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The applicant was in detention for fraud charges. While in prison, he attempted suicide twice and went …Read more
Varbanov v. Bulgaria
Country: BulgariaYear: 2000
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 31365/96, Eur. Ct. H.R. 457 (2000).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
Applicant was accused of being mentally ill and dangerous. The District Prosecutor’s Office opened an inquiry. A police officer heard the applicant, who allegedly presented a document issued by a psychiatrist certifying that he was mentally fit. Later applicant refused an invitation by the prosecutor to undergo psychiatric examination therefore he was forcefully detained at …Read more
A v. New Zealand
Country: New ZealandYear: 1999
Court: United Nations Human Rights Committee
Citation: U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/66/D/754/1997 (Aug. 3, 1999).
Health Topics: Mental health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
The applicant had developed an obsession with a young woman he had met and had begun pursuing her persistently. He was convicted of assault after grabbing her by the wrists to make her stop and talk to him. He was subsequently examined by a psychiatrist and was diagnosed as having elements of a paranoid personality. …Read more