Aswat v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 2013
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 17299/12
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
The applicant was a man suffering from severe paranoid schizophrenia. He was indicted in the United State as a co-conspirator in an effort to establish a jihad training camp in Oregon. At the time of trial, the applicant was detained in a hospital in the UK and was subject to an extradition request made by …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
Case EAND/0895/02/13
Country: ArmeniaYear: 2013
Court: Civil Court of Appeal [Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Վերաքննիչ քաղաքացիական դատարան]
Citation: Case № ԵԱՆԴ/0895/02/13
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
The appellant, Zhuleta Amarikyan, was compulsorily committed to inpatient psychiatric treatment on the request of the head of the psychiatric clinic. Amarikyan was diagnosed with acute delirium syndrome and was described as being a danger to herself and others and unable to control her actions. At the time of the trial of Amarikyan’s commitment, Amarikyan …Read more
Lashin v. Russia
Country: RussiaYear: 2013
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 33117/02; [2013] ECHR 63
Health Topics: Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to family life, Right to liberty and security of person
Lashin, a Russian citizen, was diagnosed with schizophrenia, given a 2nd degree disability status, and hospitalised multiple times. A hospital examination concluded that Lashin was incapable of understanding the meaning of his actions and unable to control them. Following an application by the public prosecutor, the District Court of Omsk declared Lashin legally incapacitated at …Read more
M.M.M. v. Australia
Country: AustraliaYear: 2013
Court: United Nations Human Rights Committee
Citation: Communication No. 2136/2012, CCPR/C/108/D/2136/2012
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 liberty and security of person
The authors, nine persons held in Australian immigration detention facilities, alleged violations of various articles (named below) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the “Covenant”). The authors had different backgrounds. Two were Myanmarese citizens, six were Sri Lankan citizens, and one was a Kuwaiti citizen. They all entered Australian territorial waters on …Read more
Petukhova v. Russia
Country: RussiaYear: 2013
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 28796/07
Health Topics: Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
Applicant, Petukhova, argued that she was deprived of her liberty when she was forced to have an involuntary examination. She alleged that this violated Article 5 § 1 (b) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“Convention”), which protects the right to liberty and security of person. In December 2005, …Read more
Re SB
Country: United KingdomYear: 2013
Court: Court of Protection
Citation: [2013] EWHC 1417 (COP)
Health Topics: Hospitals, Informed consent, Medicines, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
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
Slattery v. Manningham City Council
Country: AustraliaYear: 2013
Court: Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Human Rights Division
Citation: [2013] VCAT 1869
Health Topics: Disabilities, Mental health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination
Mr. Slattery brought this action in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (“the Tribunal”) alleging that the City Council of Manningham (“the Council”) had unfairly discriminated against him based on his disability. Slattery suffered from a series of mental impairments including bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, he acquired a …Read more
Thompson, et al. v. Ontario
Country: CanadaYear: 2013
Court: Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Citation: 2013 ONSC 5392
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Mental health, Public safety
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to life
The Court examined the constitutionality of Brian’s Law, which was passed in 2000 after a man named Brian Smith was fatally shot by an untreated schizophrenic. The law included expanded committal criteria and allowed for involuntary admission for individuals who had experienced “substantial mental deterioration,”even if they were not necessarily a danger to others. In …Read more
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health v. Ontario
Country: CanadaYear: 2012
Court: Ontario Court of Appeal
Citation: 2012 ONCA 342
Health Topics: Hospitals, Informed consent, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Right to liberty and security of person
The Centre for Addition and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Mental Health Centre Penetanguichene (MHCP)appealed an order by the Mental Disorder Court to send a person accused of sexual assault to a hospital for psychiatric treatment. The judge knew that beds for treatment would not be available until six days later. The appeal was on …Read more