The appellants, all individuals suffering from severe medical conditions, wished to die but were physically incapable of doing so themselves, due to their respective medical limitations. They could not find anyone to assist them in ending their lives; UK law criminalized assisting suicide. At issue was whether s. 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 (“s. …Read more

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

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 applicant, Ms. Julia Kinga Csoma, alleged that her gynecologist had committed “grievous unintentional bodily harm and negligence” due to serious medical errors in her treatment. Csoma became pregnant in January 2002.  Her pregnancy was monitored by a gynecologist at the town hospital where Csoma worked as a nurse.  The fetus was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, …Read more

Doctors Cuthbertson and Rubenfeld sought a declaration that the withdrawal of life support from a patient was not treatment requiring consent under the Health Care Consent Act (“HCCA”) where its continued provision is deemed futile. In 2010, following surgery to remove a benign brain tumor, Mr. Rasouli contracted an infection that caused severe brain damage. …Read more

As a result of his alleged non-disclosure of his HIV-positive status to 3 complainants prior to engaging in sexual relations, the appellant (defendant), Lester Felix, was convicted of five counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of sexual assault. Felix appealed all convictions. There was no evidence of the appellant’s level of risk of …Read more

A pregnant 37-year-old woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder was compulsorily detained under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983. She had been on and off medication for 8 years and had suffered both remissions and relapses, due to which she was detained at various times in Italy, France and in England where she currently …Read more

Appellant doctor Reeves, a gynecologist, saw CDW, his patient, for treatment of a pre-cancerous lesion on her left labia minora. Reeves performed a “simple vulvectomy” which entailed the removal of CDW’s entire vulva, including her labia and clitoris. CDW filed suit, and provided evidence that she had only agreed to removal of a small flap …Read more

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

The Plaintiff was a nurse at a medical centre. Defendants were the medical centre and a doctor at the centre. While employed at the medical centre, the Plaintiff became pregnant and developed a skin disorder. She sought medical attention and the Defendant doctor performed several diagnostic tests. Neither the nature nor the outcome of the tests …Read more