Case SU-1167/01
Country: ColombiaYear: 2001
Court: Constitutional Court
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to bodily integrity, Right to health, Right to social security
Doris Fabiola Reinoso Barroso was the daughter of Esteban Reinoso (the Plaintiff) a Colombian Petroleum Company (the Respondent) pensioner, who enjoyed medical assistance services covered by the Respondent. Although she was an adult, Ms. Barroso was listed as a beneficiary of the Plaintiff on these medical assistance services, as her paranoid schizophrenia meant that she …Read more
K. and T. v. Finland
Country: FinlandYear: 2001
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 25702/94; (2003) 36 EHRR 18; [2000] ECHR 173
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Hospitals, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to family life
Applicants were two Finnish Nationals, a mother (K.) and her cohabitant (T.). K., a diagnosed schizophrenic, had a history of hospitalization. At the time K. and T. began cohabitating in 1991, K.’s daughter (P.) and son (M.) were living with her. The children had different fathers, neither of whom was T. In 1992, custody of …Read more
Keenan v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 2001
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 27229/95, 33 Eur. H.R. Rep. 913 (2001).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Medical malpractice, Medicines, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of movement and residence, Right to bodily integrity, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to life
The applicant brought an action on behalf of her mentally ill son, Mark Keenan, who killed himself in prison, alleging the State was in violation of Articles 2 (right to life), 3 (prohibition of torture) and 13 (right to an effective remedy) of the European Convention. The applicant alleged that her son, who was known …Read more
Case 240-2000
Country: El SalvadorYear: 2000
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: No. 240-2000
Health Topics: Hospitals, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to liberty and security of person
The petitioner challenged an order by the lower court allowing his continued detention in a psychiatric hospital. A psychiatrist who had examined him stated that he could make a full recovery through outpatient treatment and did not need to remain detained. The lower court had upheld his detention because he was diagnosed with undifferentiated schizophrenia …Read more
Case T-209/99
Country: ColombiaYear: 1999
Court: Constitutional Court [Corte Constitucional]
Citation: Constitutional Court, Fourth Revision Chamber, April thirteen (13) ninty ninty nine (1999), Magistrate Dr. CARLOS GAVIRIA DÍAZ, Ruling T-209/99.
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health systems and financing, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity, Right to family life, Right to health, Right to life, Right to social security
This joint appeal involved two cases wherein mentally ill individuals were released from psychiatric hospitals into the care of their families. In File 152.647, Jorge Sandro Hernandez Tacuri had been repeatedly admitted into psychiatric hospitals because he suffered from a variety of mental psychosis, including schizophrenia and epilepsy. After treatment in the psychiatric hospital, Jorge …Read more
Olmstead v. L.C.
Country: United StatesYear: 1999
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: 527 U.S. 581 (1999)
Health Topics: Disabilities, Health care and health services, Hospitals, Mental health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to bodily integrity, Right to liberty and security of person
The Respondents, L. C. and E. W., both mentally disabled women, brought proceedings against the State alleging that the State’s failure to place them in a community-based program, after their treating professional had determined that such a placement was appropriate, violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Title II of …Read more
Winko v British Columbia (Forensic Psychiatric Institute)
Country: CanadaYear: 1999
Court: Supreme Court of Canada
Citation: [1999] 2 SCR 625
Health Topics: Hospitals, Mental health, Violence
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to bodily integrity
The appellant was schizophrenic and was arrested for attacking pedestrians on the street with a knife. Prior to the incident he had been hearing voices. The appellant was charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and possession of a weapon for purposes dangerous to the public peace. He was found not criminally responsible (“NCR”) …Read more
Johnson v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 1997
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 22520/93, 27 Eur. H.R. Rep. 296 (1999).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health, Prisons, Public safety
Human Rights: Freedom of movement and residence, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to health, Right to liberty and security of person
Applicant was a British national suffering from mental illness whilst on prison remand in 1984. He had served sentences for various physical assault convictions. The court imposed a hospital order on the applicant and subjected him to a heightened restriction order for the protection of the public from serious harm under the 1983 Mental Health …Read more
Williams v. Jamaica
Country: JamaicaYear: 1997
Court: United Nations Human Right Committee
Citation: Communication No 609/1995, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/61/D/609/1995 (4 November 1997)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to health
Williams (W) was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in December 1988. His appeal was dismissed in December 1990 and a senior lawyer advised him that an application to the judicial committee of the privy council for special leave to appeal would have no prospect of success. An appeal against the classification of his …Read more
Megyeri v. Germany
Country: GermanyYear: 1992
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 13770/88, 15 Eur. H.R. Rep. 584 (1993).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to health, Right to liberty and security of person
The applicant, a Hungarian citizen living in Germany, was detained in a psychiatric hospital based on the finding that he had performed acts which constituted criminal offences but for which he could not be held responsible because he was mentally disabled. The applicant instituted numerous proceedings concerning the review of his detention without representation by …Read more