JJUA54022U Health and Human Rights
Human rights and health law has developed in close collaboration
after the Second World War. However, the area of ‘Health and Human
Rights’ is still a new and developing area under international
human rights law and international health law. In this course
international human rights law is used as a framework to address a
number of health and patients’ rights related issues.
These issues will be addressed from an international, but also from
a national (comparative) perspective. In this way an overview is
provided of the international and national legal perspectives
involved in the health issue concerned.
Questions that will be addressed throughout the course are, for
example: Which human rights are relevant for the protection of
health and patients’ rights? Does a right to health entitle
individuals to have optimal treatment?, Does a right to life
embrace a ‘right to die’? ; To what extent have countries,
including Denmark, enacted legislation that allows for euthanasia?
Does a right to ‘reproductive health’ exist and what does it
imply?; How can human rights law address the challenges provided by
new technological developments as e.g. reproductive cloning and
genetic testing?
The course will cover the following topics:
• Introduction to international human rights law;
• Introduction of the area of ‘health and human rights’;
• Economic, social and cultural rights and health: definition of a
‘right to health’, the principle of progressive realisation, and
social determinants of health
• Civil and political human rights and health: the rights to life,
the prohibition of torture, the right to privacy and family life,
the right to health-related information, the right to
self-determination in cases of euthanasia
• Reproductive health: abortion, sex selection, sex education,
assisted reproduction services and other issues;
• Disability and health. Topics: disabled persons as a vulnerable
group, the UN Disability Convention, the ‘social model’ of
disability in relation to access to health care services.
Relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights, The
European Committee of Social Rights, the Human Rights Committee
(HRC) and national courts will be included.
• Describe the character and functioning of the
international human rights instruments and mechanisms;
• Identify and explain the connection between health and
international human rights law,
• Understand and explain the meaning and implications of
the international human ‘right to health’;
• Identify, discuss and put into perspective the
human rights issues involved in the problems related to patients’
right to dignity, self-determination, privacy, reproductive health,
as well as disability;
• Make a comparative legal analysis of particular topics
such as euthanasia and abortion;
• Critically reflect upon how global, regional and
national enforcement mechanisms (including courts) address various
health and human rights-related topics;
• Communicate and formulate her/his knowledge and
arguments professionally and linguistically correct and in a
structured and coherent way.
Brigit Toebes (ed:), "Health and Human Rights",
Intersentia 2012 Supplementary material provided in Absalon
In total 500 pages
- Category
- Hours
- Preparation
- 241
- Seminar
- 34
- Total
- 275
- Credit
- 10 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral defence, 20 minOral exam based on synopsis, 20 minutes
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
- Exam period
- 8. - 12. December 2014 (preliminary dates)
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- JJUA54022U
- Credit
- 10 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree MasterFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
- 1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedule
- B2 (Tues 13-17 + Fri 10-12)
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Law
Contracting department
- Law
Course responsibles
- Mette Hartlev (13-526a79796a334d667779716a7b456f7a7733707a336970)
Lecturers
Ph.D, Celine Brassart Olsen