Sahadath v. Trinidad and Tobago
Country: Trinidad and TobagoYear: 1996
Court: United Nations Human Rights Committee
Citation: Communication No. 684/1996, CCPR/C/74/D/684/1996
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
R.S. was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On 8 March 1996, the same day that five other warrants of execution were read (although the prison was only equipped to handle two executions a day), R.S. was read a warrant for his execution, to take place on 13 March 1996. Along with a psychiatrist, …Read more
Silva Rocha v. Portugal
Country: PortugalYear: 1996
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 82/1995/588/674
Health Topics: Mental health, Public safety
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
Silva Rocha (S) was remanded in custody after a dispute with a neighbor following which the latter died. He was committed for trial on charges of aggravated homicide and illegal possession of weapons and the criminal court found in July 1990 that the established facts constituted these offences. However, it concluded from the medical evidence …Read more
Francis v. Jamaica
Country: JamaicaYear: 1995
Court: United Nations Humans Right Committee
Citation: Communication No 606/1994
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to health
Francis (F) had been convicted of murder and sentenced to death in February 1980. An appeal was dismissed in November 1981 and in October 1987 a note of the oral judgment was produced but nothing written was issued. His lawyers had apparently stated that they could find no grounds to argue on his behalf with …Read more
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
Kay v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 1994
Court: European Commission on Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 17821/91
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
The applicant, a British citizen, claimed violations of sections one and four of Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the “Convention”) related to his involuntary recall to medical detention by the Home Secretary. In 1970, the applicant raped and killed his twelve year old neighbor. In January of 1971, the applicant pled …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
Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee v. State of M.P. and Others
Country: IndiaYear: 1994
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: AIR 1995 SC 204; JT 1994 (6) SC 40; 1994 (3) SCALE 1042; 1994 Supp (3 ) SCC 489; 1994 (2) UJ 623
Health Topics: Hospitals, Mental health
The writ petition related to the malfunctioning of administration of the Gwalior Mansik Arogyashala (the Hospital).
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