Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v. C and V
Country: United KingdomYear: 2015
Court: Court of Protection
Citation: [2015] EWCOP 80
Health Topics: Hospitals, Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity
The Kings College Hospital challenged respondent C’s ability to decide to end life-saving treatment, effectively choosing to die, by alleging that she lacked mental capacity. C had attempted to commit suicide by ingesting 60 paracetamol tablets with champagne. She made this decision shortly after undergoing treatment for breast cancer and ending of a long term …Read more
Aurnhammer v. Germany
Country: GermanyYear: 2014
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 36356/10
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Medicines, Mental health, Violence
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to liberty and security of person
On August 19, 2004, Mr. Veit Aurnhammer was convicted by the Regensburg Juvenile District Court of causing bodily harm and damage to property after he struck two ticket collectors in the face when they tried to prevent him from evading ticket controls. Aurnhammer was further convicted of dangerous bodily injury after attacking his sleeping cellmate …Read more
DD v. Secretary of State for Home Department
Country: United KingdomYear: 2014
Court: Royal Courts of London
Citation: [2014] EWHC 3820 (Admin)
Health Topics: Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
The claimant, DD, a Somali man, was granted asylum and indefinite leave to remain shortly after his arrival in the UK in 2003. Due to his involvement in fundraising for Al-Shabaab, a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measure (TPIM) was imposed in 2012. He was charged with breaching the TPIM, remanded into custody, and was sentenced …Read more
M.H. v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 2014
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 11577/06
Health Topics: Mental health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
The applicant was severely disabled as a result of Down’s Syndrome. The applicant lived with her mother, her nearest relative. She often exhibited difficult behavior and towards the end of 2002 social workers had become extremely concerned about the impact on the physical and mental health of the applicant and her mother. On 31 January …Read more
Shatrughan Chauhan and another v. Union of India and others
Country: IndiaYear: 2014
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: Writ Petition 55 of 2013
Health Topics: Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to liberty and security of person, Right to life
Fifteen criminal convicts sentenced to the death penalty challenged their sentences as in violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which protects the right to life. They claimed that the executive orders rejecting their mercy petitions were passed without considering supervening events, including delay, insanity, solitary confinement, and procedural lapses. Two convicts alleged that the …Read more
B v. Waitemata District Health Board
Country: New ZealandYear: 2013
Court: High Court
Citation: [2013] NZHC 1702
Health Topics: Health systems and financing, Hospitals, Mental health, Tobacco
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to privacy
In this case applicants argued that the no-smoking policy of the Waitemata District Health Board (WDHB)and the consequent prohibition of smoking in hospitals and surrounding grounds violated their right not to be subjected to torture or cruel treatment, the right to be treated with humanity, the right to respect private life, and the right to …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
Bures v The Czech Republic
Country: Czech RepublicYear: 2012
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: [2012] ECHR 1819
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Controlled substances, Disabilities, Health care and health services, Hospitals, Informed consent, Medicines, Mental health
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to liberty and security of person
This case concerned an application against the Czech Republic lodged with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (the Convention). The applicant alleged that he was ill-treated in a sobering-up centre in violation of Article 3 of the Convention, and …Read more