McGinley and Egan v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 1998
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 21825/93 and 23414/94; (1999) 27 EHRR 1
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Environmental health, Health information, Health systems and financing
Human Rights: Right of access to information, Right to health, Right to privacy
McGinley (M) and Egan (E) were servicemen who had been present on a Pacific island in 1958 when atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons had been carried out (five in M’s case and one in that of E). During the tests service personnel had been ordered to line-up in the open and to face away from …Read more
Norman-Bloodsaw v. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
Country: United StatesYear: 1998
Court: 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
Citation: 135 F.3d 1260 (9th Cir. 1998)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health information, Informed consent, Medical malpractice
Human Rights: Right to privacy
The Defendant, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (“Lawrence”) conducted mandatory pre-placement examinations of their employees. This mandatory exam took place after an employment offer but prior to the start of job duties. Each of the plaintiffs (current and former workers of the Defendant) had undergone this mandatory pre-placement exam. During these exams, plaintiffs completed medical history questionnaires …Read more
Andersson, Anne-Marie v. Sweden
Country: SwedenYear: 1997
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 20022/92, 25 Eur. H.R. Rep. 722 (1998).
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Health care and health services, Health information, Health systems and financing, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to privacy
Applicant, a Swedish national who lived with her youngest son was unable to work as a result of dental problems which caused her severe pain, and anxiety about a dispute with her landlord. She contacted a psychiatric clinic in order to receive a medical certificate which would enable her to claim sickness benefit from the …Read more
Kerojärvi v. Finland
Country: FinlandYear: 1995
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 17506/90, 32 Eur. H.R. Rep. 8 (2001).
Health Topics: Disabilities, Health systems and financing, Occupational health
Human Rights: Right of access to information, Right to due process/fair trial
The applicant was a Finnish national who had retired from the military after receiving a shrapnel wound in his back during his service in the wars between Finland and the Soviet Union. Although the State Office for Accident Compensation (Compensation Office) acknowledged that the shrapnel wound was a “military injury” for purposes of compensation under …Read more
Open Door and Dublin Well Women v. Ireland
Country: IrelandYear: 1992
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 14234/88 and 14235/88; (1993) 15 EHRR 244; [1992] ECHR 68; (1992) 246 Eur. Ct. H.R. (ser A)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health information, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom of expression, Right of access to information, Right to life, Right to privacy
The Applicants were two Irish companies that provided counseling to pregnant women, Open Door Counselling Ltd. and Dublin Well Woman Centre Ltd.; two counselors who worked for Dublin Well Woman, Bonnie Maher and Ann Downes; and two women of childbearing age, Mrs. X and Mrs. Geraghty. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children brought …Read more
Johns-Manville Products Corporation v. Superior Court
Country: United StatesYear: 1980
Court: Supreme Court of California
Citation: 27 Cal.3d 465
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Health care and health services, Health information, Occupational health
Rudkin, a long-time employee of the defendant corporation, developed pneumoconiosis, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related illnesses from his work with asbestos. The defendant knew about the harms of exposure to asbestos, yet it hid that information from Rudkin and continued to encourage him to work in an unsafe environment. After Rudkin had developed an industrial …Read more
United States v. Westinghouse Electric Corporation
Country: United StatesYear: 1980
Court: 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal
Citation: 638 F.2d 570 (3d Cir. 1980)
Health Topics: Health information, Occupational health
Human Rights: Right to favorable working conditions, Right to privacy
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began a health hazard evaluation of a Westinghouse Electric Corporation plant in Pennsylvania after receiving a request from an authorized union representative from Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Physicians and an industrial hygienist employed by NIOSH did walk-through inspections of the plant. The inspecting physicians suspected that the …Read more
Bigelow v. Virginia
Country: United StatesYear: 1975
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: 421 U.S. 809 (1975)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom of expression
Appellant Bigelow was the managing editor of a newspaper. An edition of the paper, under which appellant had direct responsibility, contained an advertisement for abortion services summarized by the Court as follows: [T]he advertisement announced that the Women’s Pavilion of New York City would help women with unwanted pregnancies to obtain “immediate placement in accredited …Read more