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Restriction of Access to Healthcare and Discrimination of Individuals of Sexual and Gender Minority: An Analysis of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights from an Ethical Perspective

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  • Tobias Skuban

    (Kbo-Isar-Amper-Klinikum Region München, 85540 Haar, Germany
    Institute of the History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, Ulm University, 89073 Ulm, Germany)

  • Marcin Orzechowski

    (Institute of the History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, Ulm University, 89073 Ulm, Germany)

  • Florian Steger

    (Institute of the History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, Ulm University, 89073 Ulm, Germany)

Abstract

Individuals of sexual and gender minority (SGM) form a vulnerable group with specific healthcare needs that might be prone to experience discrimination and restrictions regarding their access to healthcare. As the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) offer a normative perspective on these issues, we analyzed them systematically (1) to identify whether and in what manner ECtHR’s judgments concern restriction of access to healthcare for SGM individuals and (2) to identify and categorize the ways of discrimination to which SGM individuals are exposed. We conducted a systematic search of the database of the ECtHR’s judgments with the use of specified search terms. Descriptive statistics were performed on the identified judgments. Subsequently, we analyzed the judgments with the use of a qualitative method of thematic analysis. We identified n = 73 cases relevant for our study. In n = 7 (9.59%) of judgments, we found limitations of access to healthcare for SGM individuals, e.g., in cases of restrictions for transsexual individuals to receive hormone or surgical therapy. We regard this as a specific form of discrimination. Furthermore, we identified five other categories of discrimination: restriction of parental rights, failure to respect one’s gender identity/sexual orientation, discrimination by jurisdiction, prohibition of promotion, and verbal/physical attacks. The ECtHR proves to have a balanced view on the sensitive topic of sexual self-determination condemning any form of discrimination or restriction of access to healthcare. However, there is a need for further research on discriminatory acts by other individuals, e.g., healthcare providers, rather than by public authorities.

Suggested Citation

  • Tobias Skuban & Marcin Orzechowski & Florian Steger, 2022. "Restriction of Access to Healthcare and Discrimination of Individuals of Sexual and Gender Minority: An Analysis of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights from an Ethical Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:5:p:2650-:d:757971
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Edward McCann & Gráinne Donohue & Michael Brown, 2021. "Experiences and Perceptions of Trans and Gender Non-Binary People Regarding Their Psychosocial Support Needs: A Systematic Review of the Qualitative Research Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Maria Elisa Castro-Peraza & Jesús Manuel García-Acosta & Naira Delgado & Ana María Perdomo-Hernández & Maria Inmaculada Sosa-Alvarez & Rosa Llabrés-Solé & Nieves Doria Lorenzo-Rocha, 2019. "Gender Identity: The Human Right of Depathologization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Jorge Medina-Martínez & Carlos Saus-Ortega & María Montserrat Sánchez-Lorente & Eva María Sosa-Palanca & Pedro García-Martínez & María Isabel Mármol-López, 2021. "Health Inequities in LGBT People and Nursing Interventions to Reduce Them: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
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