Akkoyunlu v. Turkey
Country: TurkeyYear: 2016
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Akkoyunlu v. Turkey, [2016] EHCE
Health Topics: Disabilities, Health care and health services, Hospitals, Medical malpractice
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to health
In 2001, Mr. Akkoyunlu (the applicant) started his compulsory military service in Turkey. On July 25, 2001, he went to the infirmary of his regiment to complain about severe pain in his left eye. The military doctor was unavailable, so he was given eye drops by another soldier, who had no medical qualifications. He later …Read more
Cameron Mathieson, a deceased child (by his father Craig Mathieson) v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Country: United KingdomYear: 2015
Court: United Kingdom Supreme Court
Citation: [2015] UKSC 47; UKSC 2014/0166
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Disabilities, Health systems and financing, Hospitals
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to social security
The appellant, Craig Mathieson, represented his deceased son, whose Disability Living Allowance (DLA) had been suspended by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The son had been severely disabled since birth and required a high level of care. His parents were his primary care-givers. The son was admitted to the hospital for chronic …Read more
Amirov v. Russia
Country: RussiaYear: 2014
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: [2014] EHCR 51857/13
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Health care and health services, Infectious diseases, Medicines, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to bodily integrity, Right to health
Amirov is a local politician who was arrested and charged in June 2013 with attempted murder, attempting to organize a terrorist attack, and related charges. Amirov was paralyzed in 1993 and requires constant medical care. Amirov argued that he should not be detained pending trial because of his poor health, age and position in the …Read more
Fag ogArbejde, acting on behalf of Karsten Kaltoft v. Kommunernes Landsforening, acting on behalf of the Municipality of Billund
Country: DenmarkYear: 2014
Court: European Court of Justice
Citation: Case C‐354/13
Health Topics: Diet and nutrition, Disabilities
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination
The plaintiff, a childminder in the employ of the Municipality of Billund (the defendant), was fired. The plaintiff claimed such firing was due to his obesity, although the defendant claimed that the plaintiff was fired due to a decline in the number of children for him to take care of. The European Convention for the …Read more
S.C. v. Brazil
Country: BrazilYear: 2014
Court: Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Citation: Communication No. 10/2013; U.N. Doc. CRPD/C/12/D/10/2013
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Disabilities
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to work
A Brazilian national, S.C., worked as a teller at a state-run bank. S.C. was involved in three motorcycle accidents, in 2006, 2007, and 2009. She underwent surgery in 2008 after the second accident. She took medical leave in 2009. Under the bank’s internal policy, she was required to return from medical leave within three months …Read more
B. v. Romania (no. 2)
Country: RomaniaYear: 2013
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 1285/03
Health Topics: Disabilities, Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to family life, Right to privacy
The applicant, M.B., filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights for a violation of (1) laws concerning compulsory admission to psychiatric hospitals and (2) laws concerning decisions in child-rearing where the parent or guardian’s mental capacity is in question. M.B. was diagnosed in 2000 with paranoid schizophrenia. As a result of her …Read more
Cojocaru v. British Columbia Women’s Hospital and Health Centre
Country: CanadaYear: 2013
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: 2013 SCC 30
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Disabilities, Hospitals, Informed consent, Medical malpractice, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right of access to information
The plaintiff, who had previously given birth via caesarean section, was due to give birth a second time. Her obstetrician recommended a vaginal birth. During labor, Cojocaru’s uterus ruptured, which restricted oxygen supply to the baby. The scar from the previous caesarean contributed to the rupture, and an emergency caesarean section was performed. The baby …Read more
The Queen v. Ministry of Justice
Country: United KingdomYear: 2013
Court: Court of Appeal, Queen’s Bench Division
Citation: [2013] EWCA Civ 961
Health Topics: Disabilities, Health care and health services
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to life, Right to privacy
Martin suffered a stroke in 2008 leaving him unable to move or speak. He was completely dependent on his family and spent almost all of his time in bed. The effects of his stroke were permanent. Because of his disabilities, he was not able to take his own life. He had attempted to end his …Read more
Case GKPI 11-2093
Country: RussiaYear: 2012
Court: Supreme Court
Health Topics: Disabilities, Disasters and emergencies, Occupational health
Human Rights: Right to social security
The appellant contracted a disease while on a business trip to the Chernobyl region to participate in work to contain the consequences of the nuclear disaster. He sought to receive employment compensation based on the disease he acquired and his resulting disability, without submitting an official report on an accident at work or an occupational …Read more
Case of Koch v. Germany
Country: GermanyYear: 2012
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: [2012] ECHR 1621
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Controlled substances, Disabilities, Health care and health services, Medicines
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to health, Right to life
The applicant’s late wife suffered from total sensorimotor quadriplegia. The couple requested the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (the “Federal Institute”) grant her authorization to obtain a lethal dose of pentobarbital of sodium so she could commit suicide. The Federal Institute refused the request on the grounds that the German Narcotics Act …Read more