Case of Van Kuck v. Germany
Country: GermanyYear: 2003
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Applications no. 35968/97
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Medicines, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to privacy
The applicant instituted proceedings before the District Court to change her forename to Carola Brenda. The District Court held that the conditions under the Transsexuals Act were met and granted the request in 1991. In 1992, the applicant brought an action against a German health insurance company. She claimed reimbursement for hormone therapy and sex-reassignment …Read more
De’Lonta v. Angelone
Country: United StatesYear: 2003
Court: 4th Circuit Court of Appeal
Citation: 330 F.3d 630 (2003)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Medicines, Prisons, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
The Appellant, Ophelia Azriel De’lonta (born Michael A. Stokes), a Virginia inmate suffering from gender identity disorder (GID) (also known as gender dysphoria or transsexualism), brought suit against the Respondents, the Director of and doctors at the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC), alleging that they inflicted cruel and unusual punishment on her, in violation of …Read more
Van Kück v. Germany
Country: GermanyYear: 2003
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 35968/97; (2003) 37 EHRR 51
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to privacy
The applicant was registered as a male at birth. In 1991, The District Court granted the applicant’s request to change her forenames to Carola Brenda after hearing from several psychiatric and psychological experts who determined that the applicant was a male-to-female transsexual and had been for the last three years living as a female. In …Read more
Goodwin v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 2002
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 28957/95, 35 Eur. H.R. Rep. 18 (2002).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to family life, Right to privacy
The applicant, a United Kingdom citizen had always enjoyed dressing as a woman since her young age and had the impression that her body did not fit her mind. Thus she started treatment with a psychiatrist and underwent gender re-assignment surgery. After the procedure, she experienced problems at work such as harassment allegedly because of …Read more
Living World Distributors Ltd. v. Human Rights Action Group Inc. (Wellington)
Country: New ZealandYear: 2000
Court: Court of Appeal
Citation: [2001] 2 LRC 233
Health Topics: HIV/AIDS, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom of expression
Living World Distributors (“LWD”) attempted to import two videos from the USA into New Zealand. The videos, which discussed aspects of homosexuality, opposed the granting of special rights to homosexuals and stated that homosexuality is one of the causes of the spread of HIV/AIDS. The videos were deemed suitable for audiences over 16 years old …Read more
R v. North West Lancashire Health Authority, ex parte A, D, & G
Country: United KingdomYear: 1999
Court: Court of Appeal, Civil Division
Citation: [1999] EWCA Civ 2022; [2000] 1 WLR 977
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to health
North West Lancashire Health Authority (the Authority), the Appellant, appealed against an order quashing the Authority’s decision to refuse gender reassignment treatment to A, D and G, the Respondents. A, D and G all suffered from “gender identity dysphoria,” or transsexualism. Each had male physical characteristics but female sexual identity. A and G had been …Read more
X, Y and Z v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 1997
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 21830/93, 24 Eur. H.R. Rep. 143 (1997).
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Health care and health services, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to family life, Right to privacy
Applicants X, Y and Z were all British nationals. X is a transsexual who has undergone gender reassignment surgery to become a man. He has lived with Y, as her male partner, since 1979. The couple applied jointly for, and was granted treatment by AID to allow Y to have a child Z. X was …Read more