Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Inquiry concerning the Philippines
Country: PhilippinesYear: 2015
Court: UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Citation: CEDAW/C/OP.8/PHL/1
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to health, Right to life
An executive order was passed in Manila by the local authorities stating that it would take an affirmative stand on pro-life issues. In 1991, Philippines had delegated the issue of people’s health and safety to the local authorities therefore they could make policy decisions such as family planning services, population and health services. The Executive …Read more
D.N v. The MEC for Health, Gauteng
Country: South AfricaYear: 2015
Court: The High Court Of South Africa, Gauteng North Division, Pretoria
Citation: [2015] ZAGPPHC 645
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Health care and health services, Hospitals, Medical malpractice, Medicines, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to health
The plaintiff filed a suit against the Member of the Executive Council for negligence on part of the George Mukhari Hospital during and after her caesarean (C-sec) operation and also the manner in which they treated her infant daughter. The said public hospital is under the administration of the Gauteng Provincial Department. The plaintiff was …Read more
Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya) & 3 Ors. v. Attorney General & 2 Ors.
Country: KenyaYear: 2015
Court: High Court at Nairobi
Citation: Petition No. 266 of 2015
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Medicines, Sexual and reproductive health
The Director of Medical Services issued a letter on December 3, 2013 and a memo on February 24, 2014 to “All Health Workers” that directed them not to participate in training on safe abortion practice and threatened legal action for non-compliance. The Federation of Women Lawyers filed suit, stating that the letter and memo had …Read more
In the Matter of the Law on Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland
Country: United KingdomYear: 2015
Court: The High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland, Queen’s Bench Division
Citation: [2015] NIQB 96; 2014 No. 125661/01
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Disabilities, Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Informed consent, Sexual and reproductive health, Violence
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to life, Right to privacy
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (“Commission”) brought an application alleging that the rights of women in Northern Ireland who are or become pregnant with a serious malformation of the fetus (SMF), fatal fetal abnormality (FFA) or who are pregnant as a result of sexual crimes were being breached by Section 58 and Section 59 …Read more
Millicent Awuor Omuya& 1 Or. v. Attorney General & 4 Ors.
Country: KenyaYear: 2015
Court: High Court at Nairobi
Citation: Petition No. 562 of 2012
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Hospitals, Poverty, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of movement and residence, Right to family life, Right to health, Right to liberty and security of person
The petitioners were two women who gave birth and were detained by Pumwani Hospital when they could not pay maternity fees in full upon discharge. The first petitioner was referred to the hospital with a potential breech birth and was detained for 24 days after discharge when she was unable to pay her hospital bill. …Read more
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, et al. v. Iowa Board of Medicine
Country: United StatesYear: 2015
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Citation: 865 N.W.2d 252 (Iowa 2015)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Medicines, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to privacy
This case challenged rules adopted by the Iowa Board of Medicine (“Board”) regarding medicated abortions provided via telemedicine. Starting in 2008, doctors in Iowa at Planned Parenthood began performing abortions via telemedicine. The abortions were performed using mifepristone, a drug that that can be taken orally that terminates a pregnancy, and misoprostol, another oral drug …Read more
The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development & Ors. v. Nakaseke District
Country: UgandaYear: 2015
Court: High Court of Uganda at Kampala
Citation: Civil Suit No. 111 of 2012
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Health care and health services, Hospitals, Medical malpractice, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to health, Right to life
The plaintiffs contended that a woman named Nanteza Irene was brought to the Nakaseke Hospital to deliver a child. She had an obstructed labour and did not receive appropriate medical care due to unavailability of the duty doctor (DW4). The plaintiffs sought damages on account of negligent conduct of the hospital in respect of a …Read more
A.K. v. Latvia
Country: LatviaYear: 2014
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application no. 33011/08
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health information, Informed consent, Medical malpractice, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right of access to information, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to family life, Right to privacy
After giving birth to a child with Down syndrome, the Petitioner (a forty years old woman) alleged that she was denied adequate and timely medical care in the form of antenatal screening tests. She claimed that her doctor failed to refer her for proper prenatal testing in accordance with the medical protocols in place. According to …Read more
Dubska and Krejzova v. The Czech Republic
Country: Czech RepublicYear: 2014
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application Nos. 28859/11 and 28473/12
Health Topics: Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to health, Right to privacy
Ms. Sarka Dubska and Ms. Alexandra Krejzova sued the Government of the Czech Republic, alleging that a Czech law forbidding health professionals from attending home births was in violation of the right to private life as provided for in Article 8 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“Convention”). Dubska …Read more
I.V. v. Bolivia (Merits)
Country: BoliviaYear: 2014
Court: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Citation: Report No. 72/14, Case 12.655; Merits I.V. BOLIVIA; August 15, 2014
Health Topics: Informed consent, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to bodily integrity, Right to family life, Right to privacy
I.V. went to a hospital for a cesarean section and was sterilized by her doctor. She alleged that the only questions that the doctor had asked her before the procedure were where she had her first cesarean section and whether she had previously had an infection. I.V. maintained that she was not given any information …Read more