James K. Kahler v. State of Kansas
Country: United StatesYear: 2020
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Citation: 140 S.Ct. 1021 (2020)
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
The appellant was charged with four counts of first-degree murder for when he drove to his ex-wife’s grandmother’s house and shot his ex-wife, her grandmother, and his two daughters to death. The murders followed the appellant going through a divorce with the now deceased ex-wife and suffering a job loss which left him distraught. There …Read more
JH v. Alberta (Minister of Justice and Solicitor General)
Country: CanadaYear: 2020
Court: Court of Appeal of Alberta
Citation: 2020 ABCA 317
Health Topics: Health information, Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Freedom of movement and residence, Right of access to information, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
The respondent JH, a member of a First Nation in British Columbia, was admitted to the Foothills Medical Centre, run by the respondent, Alberta Health Services, on September 5, 2014 for the treatment of sepsis in his knee. Following surgery and a 20-day hospital stay, JH sought discharge. Instead, JH was admitted as a formal …Read more
CASE OF GÜÇ v. TURKEY
Country: TurkeyYear: 2018
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application no. 15374/11
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Mental health, Violence
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to due process/fair trial
The applicant, a caretaker employed by an education center, had been taken into police custody on suspicion of child molestation. The local prosecutor lodged an indictment against the applicant, charging him with sexual abuse, sexual assault and unlawful detention of a minor. The court, however, ordered the applicant’s acquittal, holding that it was not possible …Read more
Thompson v Ontario (Attorney General)
Country: CanadaYear: 2016
Court: Ontario Court of Appeal
Citation: 2016 ONCA 676
The applicants appealed a decision affirming the constitutionality of Brian’s Law (Mental Health Legislative Reform), 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 9. (“Brian’s Law”), which was enacted by the Ontario legislature in 2000. Brian’s Law amended the Mental Health Act (“MHA”), adding provisions that expanded criteria for involuntary committal in a psychiatric hospital and introduced community treatment …Read more
A.M. V. The Minister For Health
Country: IrelandYear: 2015
Court: High Court
Citation: [2015] I.E.H.C. 660
Health Topics: Infectious diseases, Medical malpractice, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to health
This case is an appeal from an award of damages granted to the appellant pursuant to the Hepatits C Compensation Tribunal Acts. The appellant contracted hepatitis C in 1977 after being given an anti D injection that “came from a batch infected with hepatitis C.” In 1998, pursuant to the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Acts, …Read more
Association for the Defence of Human Rights in Romania-Helsinki Committee on Behalf of Ionel Garcea v. Romania
Country: RomaniaYear: 2015
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 2959/11
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Health care and health services, Infectious diseases, Informed consent, Medical malpractice, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to life
The applicant was a Romanian NGO known as the Association for the Defence of Human Rights in Romania-Helsinki Committee (“Association”), representing a deceased party, Ionel Garcea. Garcea was a mentally ill prisoner who died in prison. During his sentence, he made a number of complaints about his treatment, with the Association representing him. In June …Read more
Bentley v. Maplewood Seniors Care Society
Country: CanadaYear: 2015
Court: Court of Appeal, British Columbia
Citation: 2015 BCCA 91
Health Topics: Aging, Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Diet and nutrition, Health care and health services, Hospitals, Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to health
Mrs. Bentley was an 83-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Mrs. Bentley had not spoken since 2010 and did not recognize anyone. In 1991 she had signed a directive that expressed her desire to be allowed to die and not be kept alive by artificial means or heroic measures in case there was no reasonable …Read more
Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v. C and V
Country: United KingdomYear: 2015
Court: Court of Protection
Citation: [2015] EWCOP 80
Health Topics: Hospitals, Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity
The Kings College Hospital challenged respondent C’s ability to decide to end life-saving treatment, effectively choosing to die, by alleging that she lacked mental capacity. C had attempted to commit suicide by ingesting 60 paracetamol tablets with champagne. She made this decision shortly after undergoing treatment for breast cancer and ending of a long term …Read more
Lazariu v. Romania
Country: RomaniaYear: 2015
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 31973/03
Health Topics: Mental health
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
The applicant, a lawyer, was accused of inciting false testimony from witnesses involved in several sets of criminal proceedings. Upon presenting herself to the prosecutor’s office, she was prevented from leaving and eventually taken to a psychiatric hospital. The government alleged that the applicant was detained after she refused to review the criminal file against …Read more
Aurnhammer v. Germany
Country: GermanyYear: 2014
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 36356/10
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Medicines, Mental health, Violence
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to liberty and security of person
On August 19, 2004, Mr. Veit Aurnhammer was convicted by the Regensburg Juvenile District Court of causing bodily harm and damage to property after he struck two ticket collectors in the face when they tried to prevent him from evading ticket controls. Aurnhammer was further convicted of dangerous bodily injury after attacking his sleeping cellmate …Read more