McMichael v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 1995
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 16424/90, 20 Eur. H.R. Rep. 205 (1995).
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Health care and health services, Health information, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to family life, Right to privacy
Both applicants were living together as a couple and later got married. They both suffer from a history of mental illness. Mrs. McMichael gave birth to a son, A. She had a history of severe and recurrent mental illness and, on advice that the child would be at risk if he were to go home …Read more
STC 215/1994
Country: SpainYear: 1994
Court: Constitutional Court
Health Topics: Infectious diseases, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to bodily integrity, Right to life
The parents of a mentally-disabled woman requested that the court authorize the sterilization of their daughter. According to the Article 428 of the Criminal Code made in accordance with Article 6 LO 3/89 of 21 June (the “challenged provision”), sterilization of a disabled person who suffered from serious psychological deficiency would not be unlawful if the …Read more
Department of Health & Community Services v JWB & SMB (“Marion’s Case”)
Country: AustraliaYear: 1992
Court: High Court
Citation: (1992) 175 CLR 218; [1992] HCA 15
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Disabilities, Informed consent, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to bodily integrity, Right to life, Right to privacy
“Marion” was a fourteen year old girl with an “intellectual disability”, severe deafness, epilepsy, an ataxic gait and “behavioural problems”. She could not care for herself. Her parents proposed that Marion undertake a hysterectomy and an ovarienectomy (the Procedures). The hysterectomy was proposed to prevent natural pregnancy and menstruation and the psychological and behavioural consequences …Read more
Herczegfalvy v. Austria
Country: AustriaYear: 1992
Court: European Commission on Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 10533/83, Eur. Ct. H.R. 58 (1992).
Health Topics: Diet and nutrition, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of expression, Right of access to information, Right to family life, Right to liberty and security of person
Applicant, a Hungarian national, served a prison sentence during which he assaulted prison officers, other detainees and threatened judges. He served a six-month pre-detention period in a facility for mentally ill offenders where he remained until his conditional release. He claims that his rights pursuant to Article 5 of the European Convention of Human Rights …Read more
Megyeri v. Germany
Country: GermanyYear: 1992
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 13770/88, 15 Eur. H.R. Rep. 584 (1993).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to health, Right to liberty and security of person
The applicant, a Hungarian citizen living in Germany, was detained in a psychiatric hospital based on the finding that he had performed acts which constituted criminal offences but for which he could not be held responsible because he was mentally disabled. The applicant instituted numerous proceedings concerning the review of his detention without representation by …Read more
R v. Chaulk
Country: CanadaYear: 1990
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: [1990] 3 SCR 1303
Health Topics: Mental health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial
The appellants were found guilty of first degree murder. At trial, expert evidence was given that the appellants suffered from a paranoid psychosis which made them believe they could rule the world, and in order to achieve this they had to kill. Although they were aware that the laws of Canada existed, the appellants did …Read more
F v. West Berkshire Health Authority and Anr.
Country: United KingdomYear: 1989
Court: House of Lords
Citation: [1989] 2 All ER 545
Health Topics: Informed consent, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to family life, Right to health
F was a 36 year old adult woman who suffered from a disability that left her with the mental capacity of a young child. She had been a voluntary in-patient at a mental hospital since the age of 14, where she received treatment and enjoyed a great degree of freedom of movement. Although the facility …Read more
Vikram v. State of Bihar
Country: IndiaYear: 1988
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: 1988 AIR 1782; 1988 SCR Supl. (1) 755;1988 SCC Supl. 734; JT 1988 (3) 186; 1988 SCALE (2) 325
Health Topics: Diet and nutrition, Health care and health services, Hospitals, Mental health, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Right to a clean environment, Right to food, Right to health, Right to housing, Right to life, Right to water and sanitation
This writ petition had been filed in the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution (right to move the Supreme Court for violation of fundamental rights), as a result of a letter outlining the condition of women in a “care home.” It was alleged in the letter that female inmates were made to live …Read more
Disabled Peoples International v. United States
Country: United StatesYear: 1987
Court: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 9213; OEA/Ser.L/V/II.71, Doc. 9 rev.1, 184, 22 September 1987
Health Topics: Disabilities, Hospitals, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to health, Right to liberty and security of person, Right to life
The Richmond Hill Insane Asylum in Grenada was bombed by military aircraft belonging to the United States in 1983. Petitioners, including Disabled Peoples’ International, presented the names of sixteen persons who were killed and six who were injured and claimed that the deaths and physical injuries of the mental patients were caused by purposeful armed …Read more
E. (Mrs.) v. Eve
Country: CanadaYear: 1986
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: [1986] 2 S.C.R. 388
Health Topics: Informed consent, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to bodily integrity
Eve was a mentally disabled young woman suffering from a condition that made it extremely difficult for her to communicate with others. She was not capable of understanding the consequential relationship between intercourse, pregnancy and birth. Mrs. E, her mother, was concerned that Eve might innocently become pregnant, which would mean that she, an elderly …Read more