Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections v. All Means All
Country: New ZealandYear: 2014
Court: High Court
Citation: [2014] NZHC 1433
Health Topics: Informed consent, Prisons
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to life
In this case, the Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections (“Department”) and the Canterbury District Health Board (“DHB”) sought a declaration of their rights and duties when providing medical treatment to prisoners. Specifically, they wished to receive a declaration that they have a right to provide medical treatment by way of artificial hydration and …Read more
Government of the Republic of Namibia v. LM, et al.
Country: NamibiaYear: 2014
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: (SA 49/2012) [2014] NASC 19
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health information, HIV/AIDS, Hospitals, Informed consent, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to family life, Right to privacy
Three Namibian women who were all pregnant and HIV-positive were sterilized at State hospitals after giving birth. The women claimed they were sterilized without their informed consent, and that they were sterilized due to their HIV-positive status. The first woman said that her doctor (through her nurse) told her that all HIV-positive women must have …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
Konovalova v. Russia
Country: RussiaYear: 2014
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 37873/04, § 1, ECHR 2014
Health Topics: Health information, Hospitals, Informed consent, Medical malpractice, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to privacy
Ms. Konovalova, a Russian citizen, experienced contractions due to her pregnancy and was taken to S. M. Kirov Military Medical Academy Hospital. After she was admitted to the gynecology ward, she was given a booklet issued by the hospital that contained a notice stating, “We ask you to respect the fact that medical treatment in …Read more
L.H. v. Latvia
Country: LatviaYear: 2014
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 52019/07
Health Topics: Health information, Hospitals, Informed consent, Medical malpractice, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to privacy
The applicant gave birth by Caesarean section in the Cesis District Central Hospital (Cesis Hospital) in 1997. The surgeon conducting the Caesarean section performed a tubal ligation (surgical contraception) without the applicant’s consent. The applicant commenced civil proceedings against the hospital to recover damages for the unauthorized procedure. Ultimately, in December 2006, the applicant’s claim …Read more
Petrova v. Latvia
Country: LatviaYear: 2014
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: ECHR 181 (2014)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Hospitals, Informed consent, Medical malpractice
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to bodily integrity, Right to family life, Right to privacy
The applicant’s son at the age of 23 was in a car accident and sustained very serious injuries. He had to be operated on but his condition became worse after her surgery and he died. After a few months, she discovered that her son’s kidneys and spleen had been removed for organ transplantation after his …Read more
R. (on the application of Nicklinson) v. Ministry of Justice
Country: United KingdomYear: 2014
Court: The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Citation: [2014] HRLR 17
Health Topics: Disabilities, Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to liberty and security of person
The appellants, all individuals suffering from severe medical conditions, wished to die but were physically incapable of doing so themselves, due to their respective medical limitations. They could not find anyone to assist them in ending their lives; UK law criminalized assisting suicide. At issue was whether s. 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 (“s. …Read more
XX v. WW and Middle South Area Mental Health Service
Country: AustraliaYear: 2014
Court: Supreme Court of Victoria
Citation: [2014] VSC 564
Health Topics: Informed consent, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to liberty and security of person, Right to privacy
XX, a mental health patient, had been detained and treated against her will at a treatment center under an Involuntary Treatment Order (“ITO”) in August 2013. The ITO was revoked by the Mental Health Review Board (“Board”). Following XX’s return to the ward, conversations with staff and an assessment by a psychiatric nurse, WW recommended …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