The Queen v. Ministry of Justice
Country: United KingdomYear: 2013
Court: Court of Appeal, Queen’s Bench Division
Citation: [2013] EWCA Civ 961
Health Topics: Disabilities, Health care and health services
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to life, Right to privacy
Martin suffered a stroke in 2008 leaving him unable to move or speak. He was completely dependent on his family and spent almost all of his time in bed. The effects of his stroke were permanent. Because of his disabilities, he was not able to take his own life. He had attempted to end his …Read more
Rabone v. Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
Country: United KingdomYear: 2012
Court: The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Citation: [2012] UKSC 2
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Medical malpractice, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to life
The claimants stated that the deceased was a voluntary psychiatric patient. She was assessed by the hospital as a high risk of suicide attempt as she had done so before. The hospital allowed her home leave for two days. During that period, she committed suicide. The claimants stated that the hospital and its staff were …Read more
Reynolds v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 2012
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application no. 2694/08
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Medical malpractice, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to life
The applicant’s son was admitted as a voluntary patient as he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and there was a fear that he might commit suicide. He was kept in a crisis room in the intensive care unit. However, on the first night itself, the applicant’s son jumped out of the window and died. The applicant’s …Read more
Brown v. Plata
Country: United StatesYear: 2011
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: 131 S.Ct. 1910 (2011)
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Hospitals, Infectious diseases, Mental health, Prisons, Violence, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to health
This case involved an appeal from a decision made by a three-judge court that was convened by the Federal District Court to decide the appropriate remedy for violations of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The violations were the subject of two related Federal District Court cases in California: Coleman v. Brown (1990) …Read more
Haas v. Switzerland
Country: SwitzerlandYear: 2011
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: [2011] ECHR 2422
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Medicines, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to health
The applicant suffered from a serious bipolar disorder and wished to commit suicide and requested a lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital, which is available only on prescription, from several psychiatrists but was unsuccessful. The applicant then contacted various official bodies seeking permission to obtain the substance from a pharmacy without a prescription. The Federal Office …Read more
L.C. v. Peru
Country: PeruYear: 2011
Court: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Citation: L.C. v. Peru, CEDAW, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/50/D/22/2009 (2011).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Mental health, Poverty, Sexual and reproductive health, Violence
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to family life, Right to health, Right to life, Right to privacy
A minor child, L.C., began to be sexually abused at the age of 11 years by a 34-year-old man. Two years later, L.C. became pregnant, and in response, attempted suicide by jumping from a building. L.C. survived her suicide attempt, and she was taken to a public hospital where she was diagnosed with a series …Read more
T. P. F. (represented by the Centre for Reproductive Rights and the Centre for the Promotion and Protection of Sexual and Reproductive Rights) v. Peru
Country: PeruYear: 2011
Court: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Citation: Communication No. 22/2009
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Disabilities, Health care and health services, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to life
This claim was brought on behalf of the injured by her mother, who asserted that the failure of the Peruvian health system to ensure access to essential services for women, in this case therapeutic abortion, compromises its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, entered into force in …Read more
Turdukan Zhumbaeva v. Kyrgyzstan
Country: KyrgyzstanYear: 2011
Court: United Nations Human Rights Committee
Citation: Communication No. 1756/2008
Health Topics: Mental health, Prisons, Violence
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to life
On 24 October 2004, TM and his wife were in custody at the local police station on a public disturbance charge following an argument in the street. While in police custody, TM died, and there was a dispute of fact as to how his death occurred. The ambulance doctor who attended the scene testified that …Read more
A, B and C v. Ireland
Country: IrelandYear: 2010
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: A, B, and C v. Ir., App. No. 25579/05, Eur. Ct. H.R. 2032 (2010).
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Health care and health services, Health information, Health systems and financing, Medicines, Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of movement and residence, Right of access to information, Right to bodily integrity, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to family life, Right to health, Right to life, Right to privacy
Three applicants, two Irish nationals and one Lithuanian national, travelled to the United Kingdom in 2005 to have an abortion, each applicant believing they were not entitled to an abortion in Ireland. The first applicant decided to have an abortion to avoid jeopardizing her chances of reuniting her four previous children who were in foster …Read more
Case AI 826577/RS
Country: BrazilYear: 2010
Court: Federal Supreme Court
Citation: AI 826577/RS, Supremo Tribunal Federal [Federal Supreme Court] (2010).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Medicines, Mental health, Poverty
Human Rights: Right to health, Right to life
The Court of Justice found that the State of Rio Grande do Sul was responsible for providing medications, free of charge, to those who need them but are unable to afford them. In accordance with in accordance with Article 196 (right to health) and 23 (state and federal governments’ obligations to provide for health and …Read more