The applicant, a French citizen, struggled with depression, schizophrenia and, at some points, symptoms of catatonia.  In May of 1961, the applicant, who was a primary school supply teacher, voluntarily reported to the neurological clinic at Strasbourg Hospital for observation. He expected to be in the hospital for two weeks. In June of 1961, …Read more

The respondent had an accident and suffered a head laceration. A police officer drove the respondent to the hospital where the doctor collected free-flowing blood for medical purposes from the respondent who was unconscious. He gave the blood to a police officer who did not have a search warrant or patient consent. The patient was …Read more

The Multnomah County Medical Society (the Medical Society) filed an action under § 552 of the Freedom of Information Act 1966 (FOIA) to compel James Scott, the deputy administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) tasked with the administration of the State Medicare program, to disclose the names and addresses of all Medicare beneficiaries …Read more

The Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) issued a memorandum of guidance to local health authorities that stated that, inter alia, “consultations between doctors and patients are confidential,” even for children less than 16. The memorandum noted that while “it would be most unusual,” a doctor could advise the child regarding contraception without parental …Read more

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began a health hazard evaluation of a Westinghouse Electric Corporation plant in Pennsylvania after receiving a request from an authorized union representative from Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Physicians and an industrial hygienist employed by NIOSH did walk-through inspections of the plant. The inspecting physicians suspected that the …Read more

The Respondents, a group of individual patients, doctors and physician associations, challenged the constitutionality of the New York State Controlled Substances Act of 1972 (‘Act’). Certain provisions of the Act required that all prescriptions for Schedule II drugs (dangerous but permissible medication) be prepared by the physician in triplicate on an official form.The completed form …Read more