European Court of Human Rights accepts blood donor screening based on sexual orientation

In a series of three rulings released simultaneously on 15 October 2002, the European Court of Human Rights dismissed complaints that Italy's approach to screening blood donors infringed privacy rights and discriminated against lesbians and gay men.     

Canada: national summit on "Global health is a human right"!

Held in Ottawa on 21-22 May 2003, a national summit on "Global Health is a Human Right!" brought together 86 people representing over 60 Canadian civil society groups interested in joint advocacy on realizing the human right to health in developing countries. The summit focused particularly on addressing the global crises of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.     

Legal,ethical and clinical implications of prescribing involuntary,life-threatening treatment: the case of the Sunshine Kid

Involuntary treatment is a concept often familiar to psychiatrists. In clinical practice, it usually involves the hospitalization and pharmacological management of patients with severe mental disorders. However, the scope of involuntary treatment is not limited to the management of mental illness alone. Psychiatric patients afflicted with medical illnesses may require hospitalization and invasive procedures for optimal management of these disorders. The following case illustrates a dilemma in which a psychotic patient refuses life-saving medical treatment; however, the treatment itself carries significant risk of morbidity and mortality. This article reviews the ethical, legal and clinical implications of making such difficult treatment decisions.