McGlinchey i ostali protiv Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva

Država na koju se presuda odnosi
Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo
Institucija
Evropski sud za ljudska prava
Broj predstavke
50390/99
Stepen važnosti
Referentni slučaj
Jezik
Crnogorski
Datum
29.04.2003
Članovi
3
13
41
Kršenje
3
13
Nekršenje
nije relevantno
Ključne reči po HUDOC/UN
(Čl. 3) Zabrana torture
(Čl. 3 / CAT-16) Ponižavajuće postupanje
(Čl. 3 / CAT-16) Nečovečno postupanje
(Čl. 13) Pravo na delotvorni pravni lek
(Čl. 13 / CAT-13 / ICCPR-2 / CEDAW-2f) Delotvorni pravni lek
(Čl. 41) Pravično zadovoljenje - opšte
Tematske ključne reči
VS deskriptori
Zbirke
Sudska praksa
Presuda ESLJP
Veće
Sažetak
Postupak je pokrenut na osnovu zahteva troje državljana Ujedinjenog kraljevstva koji su istakli da je majka prva dva podnosioca predstavke I ćerka trećeg podnosioca Judith McGlinchey bila izložena nečovečnom I ponižavajućem postupanju u zatvoru pre nego što je umrla, a da oni za takvu pritužbu nisu imalina raspolaganju nikakav delotvorni pravni lek.

Judith McGlinchey je bil intravenska zavisnica od heroina I imala je astmu zbog čeha je tokom prethodne godine šest puta bila primljena u bolnicu.Izneto je niz optužbi podnosilaca predstavke da je postojalo nečovečno I ponižavajuće postupanje prema njihovoj majci odnosno ćerki dok je boravila u zatvoru pa je sud svaku optužbu posebno razmatrao te je zaključio da je to što Judith nije dobila olakšanje za svoje simptome odvikavanja predstavljalo kaznenu meru, kao I da nema dovoljno materijala da donese zaključak po pitanju tvrdnji da je Judith ostavljena da leži u onome što je povraćala. Sud nije našao dokaze koji bi pokazali da je propust da joj se da lek protiv astme imao negativno dejstvo na njeno stanje ili da je uzrokovao bilo kakvu smetnju.

Sud je konstatovao da je došlo do propusta zatvorkih vlasti da obezbede precizna sredstva za konstatovanje njenog gubitka težine, što je bio faktor koji bi upozorio zatvor na ozbiljnost njenog stanja, a zbog neusaglašenosti vaga gubitak težine je bio uglavnom zanemarivan, te da postoji praznina u nadgledanju njenog stanja od strane lekara tokom vikenda kada je došlo do značajnog gubitka težine I kada su uatvorske vlasti propustile da preduzmu delotvornije korake u njenom lečenju., kao što je prijem u bolnicu kako bi se obezbedilo intravesnko davanje lekova I tečnosti ili da bi se dobila stručnija pomoć za kontrolisanje njenog povraćanja. Iz svega nevedenog sud je zaključio da je došlo do povrede člana 3 Konvencije.

Na kraju sud je zaključio da je trebalo da postoji mogućnost da Judith McGlinchey ili podnosioci predstavke koji deluju u njeno ime posle njene smrti, tražee naknadu za nematerijalnu štetu koju je ona pretrpela, te pošto nije bilo pravnog leka koji obezbeđuje mehanizam za ispitivanje standarda nege koja joj je pružena u zatvoru I mogućnost za dobijanje naknade došlo je do povrede člana 13 Konvencije.

Podnosioci predstavke su tražili naknadu štete zbog nepostupanja prema Judith McGlinchey u ime njene imovine I zbog njihovog sopstvenog šoka I uznemirenosti zbog patnji koje je ona doživela.

Sud je presudio da tužena država treba u roku od tri meseca od datuma konačnosti presude da isplati podnositelji predstavke sledeće iznose: 11.500,00 EUR, na ime imovine Judith McGlinchey i po 3.800 eur svakom podnosiocu predstavke na ime nematerijalne štete i 7.500 EUR, na ime sudskih troškova i izdataka.

Preuzmite presudu u pdf formatu

 EVROPSKI SUD ZA LJUDSKA PRAVA

DRUGO ODELJENJE

PREDMET McGLINCHEY I DRUGI PROTIV UJEDINJENOG KRALJEVSTVA

(predstavka br. 50390/99)

PRESUDA

Strazbur,

29. april 2003.

U predmetu McGlinchey i ostali protiv Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva, Evropski sud za ljudska prava (Drugo odjeljenje), koji je zasijedao u vijeću u sljedećem sastavu:

J.-P. Costa, predsjednik,
A. B. Baka,
Nicolas Bratza,
L. Loucaides,
C. Birsan
M. Ugrekhelidze,
A. Mularoni, sudije,
i T. L. Early, zamjenik sekretara Odjeljenja,

pošto je razmatrao predmet na zatvorenim sjednicama održanim 28. maja 2002. i 1. aprila 2003. godine, donosi sljedeću presudu, usvojenu poslednjeg od navedenih datuma:

POSTUPAK

  1. Predmet je formiran na osnovu predstavke (br. 50390/99) protiv Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva Velike Britanije i Severne Irske, koju je, na osnovu člana 34 Konvencije za zaštitu ljudskih prava i osnovnih sloboda (u daljem tekstu „Konvencija“), Sudu podnijelo troje državljana Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva, Andrew George McGlinchey, Natalie Jane Best i Hilary Davenport (u daljem tekstu „podnosioci predstavke“), 17. juna 1999. godine.
  2. Podnosioce predstavke, kojima je dodijeljena pravna pomoć, zastupao je K. Lomax, advokat iz Lidsa (Leeds). Vladu Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva (u daljem tekstu „Država“) zastupao je njen zastupnik, D. Walton, iz Ministarstva za spoljne poslove i Komonvelt iz Londona.
  3. Podnosioci predstavke su konkretno istakli da je Judith McGlinchey, majka prva dva podnosioca predstavke i ćerka trećeg podnosioca, bila izložena nečovječnom i ponižavajućem postupanju u zatvoru prije nego što je umrla, a da oni za takvu pritužbu nijesu imali na raspolaganju nikakav djelotvoran pravni lijek.
  4. Predstavka je dodijeljena Trećem odjeljenju Suda (pravilo 52, st. 1 Poslovnika Suda).
  5. Sud je 1. novembra 2001. promijenio sastav svojih odjeljenja (pravilo 25, st. 1). Ovaj predmet dodijeljen je novoformiranom Drugom odjeljenju (pravilo 52, st. 1). U okviru ovog Odjeljenja vijeće koje će razmatrati predmet (čl. 27, st. 1 Konvencije) formirano je u skladu s pravilom 26, stav 1.
  6. Vijeće je 28. maja 2002. donijelo odluku da je predstavka prihvatljiva.
  7. Država je podnijela svoje napomene o meritumu (pravilo 59, st. 1), a podnosioci predstavke nijesu. Poslije konsultacija sa stranama u postupku, Vijeće je zaključilo da nije neophodna rasprava o meritumu (pravilo 59, st. 3 in fine).

ČINJENICE

I. OKOLNOSTI SLUČAJA

  1. Podnosioci predstavke Andrew George McGlinchey i Natalie Jane Best, rođeni 1985, odnosno 1990. godine, djeca su Judith McGlinchey (rođene 1968. godine). Podnositeljka predstavke, Hilary Davenport, rođena 1945, majka je Judith McGlinchey.
  2. Judith McGlinchey je umrla 3. januara 1999. godine u bolnici Pinderfilds (Pinderfields), u Vejkfildu (Wakefield), u Zapadnom Jorkširu (West Yorkshire), dok je kao osuđenica bila u nadležnosti Ministarstva unutrašnjih poslova Vlade Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva.
  3. Judith McGlinchey je dugo bila intravenska zavisnica od heroina i imala je astmu, zbog čega je tokom prethodne godine šest puta primljena u bolnicu. Navodno je Judith McGlinchey, prije nego što je otišla u zatvor, rekla svojoj majci, koja sada vodi računa o njenoj djeci Andrewu i Natalie, da želi pomoć u rehabilitaciji da bi se oslobodila heroinske zavisnosti. Rekla je svom advokatu da je pokušala da se prijavi za dobijanje pomoći, ali da je bilo nemoguće zakazati termin bez pretjeranog odlaganja.
  4. Nakon što je osuđena zbog krađe, Judith McGlinchey je 7. decembra 1998. Prekršajni sud u Lidsu izrekao kaznu od četiri mjeseca zatvora, iako je postojao alternativni predlog da joj se odredi uslovna kazna pod uslovom da se liječi od zavisnosti. Potom je smještena u zatvor Nju Hol (New Hall) u Vejkfildu. Svom advokatu je rekla da namjerava da iskoristi period u zatvoru kao priliku da se oslobodi svoje heroinske zavisnosti.
  5. Na zdravstvenom pregledu koji je obavljen pošto je stigla u zatvor 7. decembra 1998. godine, zabilježeno je da Judith McGlinchey nije djelovala pretjerano povučeno, depresivno ili anksiozno. Imala je 50 kg. Žalila se na oticanje lijeve ruke, simptome odvikavanja od zavisnosti i na to da pati od teškog oblika astme, naročito prilikom odvikavanja, i zadržana je u zatvorskoj ambulanti da bi je pregledao ljekar. Isto veče Judith McGlinchey je telefonirala svojoj majci i žalila se na inficiranu ruku i astmu. Tokom noći, kada je primijećeno zviždanje („vizing“), dobila je inhalator. Dobila je i paracetamol.
  6. Zatvorska medicinska dokumentacija pokazala je kasnije da se žalila na simptome odvikavanja i da je često povraćala. Dokumentacija se sastojala od kartona s redovnim nalazima o zdravstvenom stanju, tabele recepata i davanja ljekova i bilježaka sa procjenama medicinskog osoblja. Njen krvni pritisak, temperatura i puls provjeravani su svakodnevno.
  7. Judith McGlinchey je 8. decembra pregledao dr K, zatvorski ljekar, koji je propisao antibiotike za njenu ruku, inhalatore za astmu i lijek, Lofexidine, za ublažavanje simptoma odvikavanja od heroina. U bilješkama medicinskog osoblja stoji da je bacila šolju čaja na drugi kraj ćelije, da je bila „zaključana tokom obuke“[1] i da je tokom noći bila veoma bučna i zahtjevna. Lofexidine u podne nije dat. Podnosioci predstavke smatraju da je to bila kazna, dok Država tvrdi da je to urađeno na preporuku ljekara, zbog pada krvnog pritiska Judith McGlinchey. U bilješkama o lečenju se vidi da je tog jutra zdravstveni radnik pregledao Judith McGlinchey, a dokumentacija o davanju lekova, koju je potpisao dr K, pokazuje da je poslije izmjerenog krvnog pritiska od 80/60 naredna doza lijeka Lofexidine, u podne, bila izostavljena.
  8. Dokumentacija pokazuje da je 9. decembra 1998. ona i dalje zahtjevala negu. Rečeno joj je da očisti svoju ćeliju prije obuke, što se odnosilo na redovno spremanje ćelije i u skladu je s uobičajenom praksom. Zabilježeno je da je odbila da to učini. Bila je zaključana dok je trajala obuka i odbila je svaki obrok. Uveče je zabilježeno da je imala 43 kg. Zabilježeno je da je povraćala tokom večeri i da se žalila na povraćanje tokom noći. Podsticana je da uzima tečnost i medicinsko osoblje joj je dalo dvije doze blagog lijeka protiv mučnine (magnezijum trisilikat).
  9. Dr K. je kontrolisao njeno stanje 10. decembra 1998. Kako je kasnije rečeno u izjavi mrtvozorniku[2] 4. januara 1999, njeni medicinski nalazi (temperatura, puls i krvni pritisak) ostali su zadovoljavajući. Nije izgledala dehidrirano – zabilježeno je da je njen jezik vlažan i čist – ali pošto se i dalje žalila na povraćanje dobila je injekciju s lijekom protiv povraćanja. Tokom noći se žalila dežurnoj sestri na proliv i grčeve u stomaku. Dobila je dozu magnezijum trisilikata zbog mučnine, ali je zabilježeno da to nije djelovalo u većoj mjeri.
  10. Judith McGlinchey je 10. decembra 1998. plačući pozvala svoju majku, žaleći se da uprkos tome što je dobila injekciju i dalje neprestano povraća i da ne dobija nikakvu drugu medicinsku pomoć kako bi se skinula s droge. Rekla je da mora da čisti ono što je povratila i mislila je da će umrijeti. Država je izjavila da je u njenoj ćeliji postojao toalet do kog je mogla da dođe i da je praksa da medicinsko osoblje počisti ako povraćeni sadržaj bude na podu ili nekoj drugoj površini. Jedina osoba koja je bila među osobljem koje se brinulo o Judith McGlinchey, a koja je ostala u zatvorskoj službi i tamo je glavna medicinska sestra, koja je obavijestila Državu da se od zatvorenika ne bi tražilo da očiste ono što su sami povratili i da se ne sjeća da je od Judith McGlinchey traženo da to učini.
  11. Zabilježeno je da 11. decembra 1998. nije povratila šolju čaja i čašu soka, ali da je povraćala tokom poslijepodneva i večeri. U 18.10 časova pronađena je kako puši u krevetu i kada su je pitali šta se dešava, odgovorila je: „ništa“. Idućeg dana je zabilježeno da je bila „pozitivna na opijate“.
  12. Ljekar ju je pregledao 11. decembra 1998. Data joj je još jedna injekcija s ljekovima kako bi joj bili olakšani simptomi koje je imala. Ljekar je ustanovio da je njeno opšte stanje stabilno. U svojoj izjavi od 4. januara 1999. ljekar je naveo da je, poslije injekcije, ona bila u stanju da zadrži tečnost koju je tokom dana oralno uzimala, mada je uveče opet povraćala. Država je izjavila da je doktor provjeravao da li pokazuje znake dehidriranosti, ali da ih nije našao. To je potvrđeno i u dokazima koje je dr K. dostavio mrtvozorniku. U bilješkama stoji da je njen jezik bio vlažan i čist. U slučaju kada je osoba ozbiljno dehidrirana, on bi očekivao da ta osoba bude fizički veoma slaba i moguće je da ne bi mogla da ustane iz kreveta, da ima visok puls i nizak krvni pritisak i da se prilikom pregleda konstatuje da su oči upale, jezik suv i ispucao, usne usahle i koža usahla i tanka.
  13. Dvanaestog decembra 1998. nastavila je da povraća i imala je proliv i abdominalne tegobe. Zabilježeno je da je imala 40 kg. Ništa nije jela. U bilješkama medicinskog osoblja navodi se da je provela bolju noć. Zapisano je: „Nastavlja da povremeno povraća? Ruka u grlu.“ U medicinskoj dokumentaciji navodi se da je primjećeno kako drži prste u grlu i povraća po svojoj ruci.
  14. Prema onome što je upisano u bolnički dnevnik, 13. decembra 1998. nije se žalila na povraćanje niti je ono uočeno, osim dva puta početkom noći. Isto tako, navedeno je da je pojela malo hrane za večeru i da je u toku te noći imala duge periode spavanja. Tog dana nije ništa upisano u medicinsku dokumentaciju. Ljekar je u svojoj izjavi od 4. januara 1999. naveo da su 12. i 13. decembra njena temperatura, puls i krvni pritisak bili u okviru normalnih vrijednosti. Propisano je da se poslije injekcija oralno daju ljekovi protiv povraćanja (metoklopromid), i ti ljekovi su joj dati u četiri navrata između 10. i 12. decembra 1998. U svojoj izjavi mrtvozorniku, glavna medicinska sestra je izjavila da ljekovi nijesu dati 13. decembra jer je Judith McGlinchey prestala da povraća.
  15. Međutim, u 8.30 časova 14. decembra 1998, u karton s redovnim nalazima o zdravstvenom stanju upisano je sljedeće:

„... išla da vidim zatvorenicu u ćeliji, kad je ustala iz kreveta srušila se na mene povraćajući sadržaj izgleda kao talog kafe. Postavila je na pod u položaj za oporavak i pozvala pomoć. Pacijentkinja nije odgovarala i djelovalo je da ima napad. Pozvana hitna pomoć (999). Povratila svijest, i dalje povraćala, dvije medicinske sestre su joj pomogle da se popne na krevet. Kiseonik dat na licu mjesta. Uzet EKG. Nije mogao biti izmjeren puls ni krvni pritisak. Nije bio moguć intravenski pristup zbog apscesa na rukama i prethodnog korišćenja droge. Najbliži rođaci pozvani telefonom u 9.15 na zahtjev Judith, nedostupni, sin treba da prenese poruku u roku od pola sata. Hitna pomoć je odvela u bolnicu. Hitna pomoć stigla u 8.45 i otišla u 8.53 u Opštu bolnicu u Pinderfildsu, u Vejkfildu.“

  1. Zabilježeno je da je na njenom krevetu nađeno mnogo povraćenog sadržaja izgleda kao talog kafe (izmenjena krv u stomaku). Medicinska dokumentacija bolnice u Pinderfildsu pokazuje da je primljena u 9.18. Njena majka je otprilike u to vrijeme obavještena da je ona u bolnici i da je loše, ali da se stabilizovala. Zapisano je da je:

„... omamljena, ali pokretna i reaguje. Medicinska sestra me je obavijestila da je povećan broj bijelih krvnih zrnaca, uz abnormalnu funkciju bubrega i jetre ... moguća dijagnoza ... zloupotreba droge.“

  1. Njena majka je kasnije saznala od medicinskog osoblja da je kosa Judith McGlinchey prilikom prijema bila ulijepljena sadržajem povraćanja.
  2. Petnaestog decembra u 8.00 časova unijeta je sljedeća bilješka:

„.... Prebačena na Odjeljenje 7; Odjeljenje 7 kontaktirano u sred hitne situacije s njom, imala zastoj u radu srca, ali je reanimirana (sic) i sada dobija transfuziju krvi i [pravi se] prolaz za vazduh .......“

U 10.30 časova:

„... Odjeljenje 7 zvalo da pita da li je rodbina obavještena o pogoršanju, oni su sada s njom, za pola sata će izvršiti novu procjenu i ukoliko nema poboljšanja isključiće vještačko disanje“.

  1. Bolnica je obavjestila porodicu da je Judith McGlinchey u kritičnom stanju i da je možda pretrpjela moždano oštećenje zbog prestanka rada srca. Njena jetra i bubrezi su otkazivali i nijesu mogli da je stabilizuju. Ventilirana je ručno, jer na Odjeljenju intenzivne njege nije bilo kreveta. Ljekari su rekli da će obustaviti ljekove kako bi vidjeli da li dolazi k sebi i sama diše i, ukoliko to nije slučaj, ostaviti je. Pozvan je rimokatolički sveštenik. Porodici je savjetovano da se oprosti od Judith McGlinchey, što je i učinila. Ona se potom malo oporavila i u 19.15h je premještena u Kraljevsku ambulantu u Bredfordu (Bradford), gdje je bio na raspolaganju krevet na Odjeljenju intenzivne njege. Na tom odjeljenju je bila stabilna, mada je bila priključena na aparate za održavanje života i bila pod jakim sedativima.
  2. Šesnaestog decembra 1998. u 6.45 časova stanje Judith McGlinchey zabilježeno je kao stabilno, ali kritično. U 13.00 časova ocjenjeno je da su njeni izgledi veoma slabi. Do 14.00 časova 18. decembra 1998. njeno stanje se malo popravilo. Ostala je priključena na aparat za vještačko disanje, iako je tada obustavljena sedacija. Povremeno se trzala i izgledalo je da se lagano budi. U toku noći 23. decembra 1998. otvorila je oči i reagovala na svijetlo, iako skeniranje mozga nije pokazalo nikakvu aktivnost.
  3. Dvadeset sedmog decembra 1998. Judith McGlinchey premještena je u Opštu bolnicu u Pinderfildsu na odjeljenje poluintenzivne njege i odatle na Odjeljenje 7. Trideset prvog decembra zabilježeno je da ona, iako su joj oči otvorene, i dalje ne reaguje i da je u kritičnom stanju. Drugog januara 1999. njena majka je došla u posjetu s decom. Njene oči bile su otvorene, ali je imala tamno žutu boju i trzala se na način koji se povezuje s oštećenjem mozga.
  4. Trećeg januara 1999. bolnica je savjetovala porodici da odmah dođe u bolnicu. U zatvorskoj medicinskoj dokumentaciji navodi se da je Judith McGlinchey umrla u 13.30 časova.
  5. U izvještaju s autopsije obavljene 4. januara 1999, bilježi se da je Judith McGlinchey imala 41 kg. U izvještaju se navodi da, iako povraćanje može biti jedan od simptoma odvikavanja od heroina, uzrok povraćanja podnosioca nije nikad u potpunosti ustanovljen. Epizode teškog povraćanja mogle su da izazovu rascjepe u gornjem gastro-intestinalnom traktu („Mallory-Weissov rascjep“), mada bi to najvjerovatnije zaraslo do vremena kad je umrla. To je bio najvjerovatniji uzrok krvarenja u želucu koje je za rezultat moglo imati povraćeni sadržaj izgleda kao talog kafe. Ako je izgubila značajne količine krvi, usljed čega bi bila anemična, to je moglo da izazove srčani napad. Srčani napad je izazvao hipoksično oštećenje mozga i otkazivanje većeg broja organa s neizbježnim fatalnim ishodom.
  6. U pismu od 18. januara 1999, mrtvozornik je obavijestio porodicu da će se održati saslušanje pred porotom.[3] Tokom saslušanja, koje je održano 6. decembra, iskaze su dali dr K, zatvorski ljekar, sestra N, glavna medicinska sestra u zatvoru, sudskomedicinski vještak koji je izvršio obdukciju, tri konsultanta iz bolnica u Pinderfildsu i Bredfordu koji su bili uključeni u liječenje Judith McGlinchey i treći podnosilac predstavke, majka Judith McGlinchey. Nju je tokom postupka zastupao advokat koji je u njeno ime postavljao pitanja svjedocima.
  7. Tokom davanja iskaza ispostavilo se da su vage koje su korišćene da bi se obavilo mjerenje Judith McGlinchey u zatvoru bile neprecizne i neusaglašene, pri čemu su one koje su korišćene prilikom prijema pokazivale dvije ili tri funte razlike u odnosu na one koje su potom korišćene u zatvorskoj ambulanti. Dr K. je objasnio da zbog te razlike pridaje veći značaj svojim kliničkim zapažanjima o posljedicama mogućeg gubitka težine Judith McGlinchey, ali da je bio svjestan mogućeg problema i da je dao uputstva da se njena težina prati. Bez obzira na antibiotike koji su propisani za njenu septičnu ruku, takođe je ukazano da joj oni danima nijesu davani – od dvadeset doza koje je trebalo da primi tokom pet dana, primila je šesnaest. Glavna medicinska sestra, sestra N, nije mogla da objasni zašto je došlo do tih propusta, ali je sugerisala da je medicinska sestra mogla zaboraviti da u medicinski karton upiše da su doze date.
  8. I sestra N. i dr K. su u iskazima izjavili da Judith McGlinchey nije pokazivala kliničku sliku teškog bolesnika tokom ovog perioda, navodeći da je ona ustajala i kretala se, i da se družila s ostalima. Dr K. je rekao da su njeni simptomi postajali slabiji i da s obzirom na njen krvni pritisak, temperaturu, puls i opšte stanje on nije bio zabrinut da je ona ozbiljno bolesna ili da postoji bilo kakva potreba da bude primljena u neku bolnicu van zatvora. Ispostavilo se da dr K. nije radio u zatvoru vikendom, pa 12. i 13. decembra 1998. nije bio prisutan prije nego što je Judith McGlinchey kolabirala. Ljekar koji ne radi puno radno vrijeme dolazio je subotom ujutro, pa je zatvor, u slučaju potrebe za ljekarom, zavisio od dolaska ljekara po pozivu. To je objašnjenje zašto nije bilo nikakve bilješke u dokumentaciji za 13. decembar 1998. Sestra N. je objasnila da se bolnički zapis od 8. decembra u kome se kaže da je Judith McGlinchey „zaključana tokom obuke“ odnosi na rutinski postupak, koji podrazumijeva da zatvorenici koji ne pohađaju časove obuke za to vrijeme budu zatvoreni u svojim ćelijama.
  9. Troje konsultanata koji su liječili Judith McGlinchey u bolnici takođe su dali iskaze o njenom stanju po prijemu i o kasnijem pogoršanju. Oni nijesu mogli sa sigurnošću da kažu šta je uzrokovalo njeno kolabiranje ili krvarenje u želucu. Dr Tobin je smatrao da je bila dehidrirana prilikom dolaska u bolnicu, ali da zbog njenog poremećenog stanja nije mogao da plasira centralni venski kateter koji bi omogućio da se izvrši precizna analiza. Tokom ispitivanja on je izjavio da su znaci koji su upućivali na dehidrataciju mogli takođe biti uzrokovani svježim krvarenjem, ali ne jednom epizodom povraćanja sadržaja koji izgleda kao talog kafe.
  10. U završnoj riječi pred porotom mrtvozornik je dokaze sumirao na sljedeći način:

„... prvog dana Judith je primljena u zatvorsku ambulantu ... pregledao ju je ljekar, [dr K.], drugog dana, 8. decembra. O pregledu je sačinio bilješku. I dalje je zadržana u zatvorskoj ambulanti, ali joj je tokom nedjelje postalo lošije. Čuli ste dokaze o činjenici da je koristila heroin i bilo je poznato da u slučaju da se odvikava od heroina može doći do pojave nekih neprijatnih simptoma ... ti simptomi mogu biti, na primjer, proliv i povraćanje, mogući grčevi u želucu, poremećaj spavanja i tome slično, i zapravo su informacije koje je Judith davala svojoj majci kada je prvi put pozvala stvorile kod vas sliku da je znala da je pred njom vjerovatno težak put, ali da je spremna da to podnese.

Svakako je tokom cijele nedjelje .... podrobno dokumentovano da je Judith intenzivno povraćala. Iako je zbog toga povremeno dobijala ljekove, oni su djelovali samo veoma kratko vrijeme i pošteno je reći da je od sredine nedjelje pa nadalje ona povraćala u nekom trenutku svakog dana. Pomenuta je i činjenica da je imala proliv i da, opšte uzev, nije bila dobro.

Njena uhranjenost nije bila na odgovarajućem nivou, i mada je imala tečnosti za piće na raspolaganju, nije bilo načina da se prati koliko je tečnosti unosila. Nije bilo moguće pratiti da li je stvarno pila pa povraćala, ili uopšte nije pila. Nije bilo pokušaja da se mjeri tečnost tokom te nedelje i njeno povraćanje se zapravo pojačavalo i u određenim situacijama je opisano kao obilno povraćanje. U bilješkama piše „povraćanje +++“, što znači prilično mnogo, i mada ju je svaki dan obilazilo medicinsko osoblje, kao i ljekar u nekoliko navrata, medicinsko osoblje u zatvoru Nju Hol je sve vrijeme imalo utisak da Judith ne pokazuje znake dehidriranosti. Drugim riječima, nije bilo gubitka tečnosti i [dr K.] je u svom iskazu objasnio svoje nalaze i činjenicu da nije mogao vidjeti nikakav pravi dokaz da je dehidrirala u to vrijeme i smatrao je čak i poslije svega da nije bilo potrebe da ona bude primljena u bolnicu.

Skoro nedjelju dana po prijemu [u zatvor], određenog jutra, kad se probudila... ona je bukvalno izgubila svijest u prisustvu bolničkog osoblja i povraćala je veliku količinu .... sadržaja izgleda kao talog kafe...

Tokom davanja iskaza bilo je riječi o tome ... da li je kod Judith u to vrijeme došlo do prestanka rada srca. U stvari, svi doktori koji su je potom pregledali ... smatrali su da to vjerovatno nije bio slučaj, iako je svakako kolabirala i mada je moguće da je usljed toga izgubila značajnu količinu krvi. U to konkretno vrijeme nije bilo dokaza da je srce prestalo da radi.

Hitna pomoć ju je prevezla u bolnicu u Pinderfildsu ... gdje je odmah stavljena pod nadzor dr Tobina... Njegova radna dijagnoza u to vrijeme bila je da je Judith mogla imati određeni stepen otkazivanja jetre i da je takođe moglo biti određenog... krvarenja iz gornjeg gastro-intestinalnog trakta, jednjaka ... s obzirom na činjenicu da je povraćala sadržaj izgleda kao talog kafe.

Dr Naomi Carter, patolog... svjedočila je da je našla neke ostatke u Judithinom želucu koji su zaista mogli da liče na krv ili izmenjenu krv ... veoma se trudila da objasni da nije mogla da nađe nikakav izvor krvarenja u Judithinim unutrašnjim organima ... jedan mogući vjerovatni uzrok krvarenja koji se pokazao u povraćenom sadržaju koji je izgledao kao talog kafe bio je da je nagon za povraćanjem koji je postojao... mogao uzrokovati mali rascjep na njenom jednjaku na mjestu gdje se spaja sa želucem ili alternativno na sluzokoži samog želuca ... to je medicinsko stanje poznato kao Mallory-Weissov rascjep, ali ona nije mogla da nađe dokaz da je to bio slučaj. Prema njenom mišljenju, moguće je da je ovaj mali rascjep zarastao do trenutka kad je ona vidjela Judithino tijelo, što se očigledno desilo nekoliko dana kasnije. To je jedino objašnjenje zašto je došlo do bilo kakvog krvarenja... Opravdano je pridavati značaj tom krvarenju jer je ono vrlo vjerovatno dovelo do toga ... da je Judith izgubila određenu količinu krvi, što bi značilo da je njeno srce moralo snažnije da radi kako bi to prevazišlo i kada je bila u bolnici u Pinderfildsu svakako je bila izuzetno loše.

Dr Tobin je smatrao da je imao osjećaj da je Judith zapravo dehidrirala, ali to nije mogao konkretno da dokaže jer, sjetićete se, prema iskazu dr Tobina, on nije imao mogućnosti da uvede centralni venski kateter. Da je to mogao da uradi, bilo bi moguće i da ga koristi kao dijagnostičko sredstvo ... svakako je dr Tobin smatrao da je bilo indicija da je Judith dehidrirala, bez obzira na to što medicinsko osoblje u Nju Holu, kako je nedjelja odmicala, nije smatralo da je to bilo u pitanju.

Ujutru, 15. decembra, ... Judith je nažalost doživjela prestanak rada srca i smatralo se da je zbog toga ostala bez kiseonika i ... da je došlo do nedostatka kiseonika u njenom mozgu, što je uzrokovalo ono što se zove hipoksično oštećenje mozga.

... Obdukcioni nalaz ... je objasnio uzrok smrti i dr Carter je mogla da potvrdi da je uzrok smrti hipoksično oštećenje mozga, nedostatak kiseonika u mozgu uzrokovan prestankom rada srca, za koji je dr Carter smatrala da je uzrokovan krvarenjem u gornjem gastro-intestinalnom traktu do kog je došlo iz neutvrđenih razloga ...“

  1. Mrtvozornik je pozvao porotu da donese odluku da je smrt nastupila usljed prirodnih uzroka ili da konstatuje smrt bez navođenja uzroka. Porota je jednoglasno odlučila da konstatuje smrt bez navođenja uzroka.
  2. Trima podnosiocima predstavke dodijeljena je pravna pomoć kako bi iskoristili domaće pravne ljekove za naknadu štete. Njihovi advokati su 12. februara 1999. javnom pravobraniocu (Treasury Solicitor) poslali dopis kojim su zahtjevali uvid u medicinsku i zatvorsku dokumentaciju, imajući u vidu zahtjev za naknadu štete zbog smrti Judith McGlinchey.
  3. U izvještaju od 13. septembra 2000, ljekar koga su podnosioci predstavke konsultovali izjavio je, između ostalog, i sljedeće:

„Smatram da ponovljeno povraćanje može biti simptom odvikavanja od heroina i mada nemam nikakvo lično iskustvo u radu s ljudima koji su podvrgnuti programu detoksikacije, svakako ne bih bio zadovoljan da tretiram nekoga ko povraća u više navrata, a da ne koristim intravenske tečnosti, intravensko davanje ljekova protiv povraćanja i mogućnost da često pratim biohemijske nalaze.

... Judith je bila ozbiljno pothranjena.

Njena opšta loša uhranjenost skoro sigurno je bila dugotrajna, i vjerovatno je bila povezana s heroinskom zavisnošću, i svaki produženi period povraćanja, bez obzira na uzrok, vjerovatno bi vrlo brzo izazvao težak poremećaj biohemijskih nalaza. Sem poremećaja elektrolita i dehidratacije, ona je vrlo vjerovatno imala teškoća da održi odgovarajući nivo šećera u krvi, pošto nije imala nikakve rezerve u obliku pohranjenih ugljeno-hidratnih supstanci u tijelu koje bi mogle biti iskorišćene kada nije bila u mogućnosti da apsorbuje odgovarajuće hranljive materije iz svog gastro-intestinalnog sistema s obzirom na njeno stalno povraćanje.

U takvim okolnostima može doći do začaranog kruga. Nizak nivo šećera u krvi sam po sebi može izazvati dodatne mučnine i povraćanje. Veći broj metaboličkih procesa može biti poremećen. Osoba može postati razdražljiva. Nivo svijesti može biti ozbiljno smanjen i čak može nastupiti koma.

Intravenski pristup često je veoma otežan kada je riječ o intravenskim uživaocima droge, čak i za kliničare kao što su anesteziolozi koji rutinski plasiraju igle. Vjerovatno bi bili potrebni centralni venski kateteri. To su posebni dugi kateteri, često s više od jednog lumena, koji se uvlače u velike krvne sudove koji su blizu srca. Ne bih očekivao da prosječni medicinski radnik u zatvoru bude izvježban da plasira takav kateter.

Poželjno je da ti kateteri budu plasirani u bolnici, od strane osoblja koje posjeduje neophodne vještine. Nakon plasiranja, da li su ispravno postavljeni ... treba da bude provjereno rentgenskim snimkom prije nego što se koriste za davanje ljekova i tečnosti. Kada su plasirani, njihovo održavanje zahtjeva profesionalno bolničko osoblje koje održava aseptične uslove.

Sklon sam da uznemirenost i očigledan nedostatak saradnje koje je ispoljavala Judith nakon prijema ... i prije nego što je drugi put kolabirala, pripišem cerebralnoj iritaciji. Cerebralna iritacija često se uočava nakon perioda cerebralne hipoksije. Naravno, određena cerebralna hipoksija vjerovatno je nastupila u vrijeme kad je kolabirala [u zatvoru] i nastavljena je do vremena kada je bila u toku reanimacija u Pinderfildsu ...

Krvarenje koje je nastupilo nakon perioda upornog i snažnog povraćanja svakako je moglo biti uzrokovano Mallory-Weissovim rascjepom kako se sugeriše ... u izveštaju o autopsiji.

I da je Judith ranije primljena u bolnicu, moglo je ipak biti teško da se kontroliše povraćanje i, s obzirom na njeno loše opšte stanje i lošu uhranjenost, ukoliko je uzrok krvarenja bio Mallory-Weissov rascjep, do toga je ipak moglo doći, ali ne bi bila u toj meri dehidrirana i/ili biohemijski poremećena, i posljedice takvog događaja bi vjerovatno bile manje ozbiljne.

Alternativno, da je njeno povraćanje bilo stavljeno pod kontrolu u nekoj ranijoj fazi, kasniji žalosni slijed događaja mogao je možda biti spriječen.“

  1. U mišljenju koje je dao 30. oktobra 2000, zastupnik je podnosiocima predstavke u svijetlu ovog medicinskog izvještaja rekao da nije bilo dovoljno dokaza da se uspostavi neophodna uzročna veza između smrti Judith McGlinchey i navodnog nemarnog postupanja prema njoj u zatvoru. Oni nijesu pokušali da ostvare svoje zahtjeve koji proističu iz nemarnog postupanja.

II. RELEVANTNO DOMAĆE PRAVO

  1. Osoba koja pretrpi povredu, fizičku ili psihijatrijsku, usljed nemara druge osobe, može podnijeti tužbu za naknadu štete za tu povredu. Pogoršanje postojećeg stanja predstavlja takvu povredu. Uzrujanost i duševna bol koji su posljedica nemara, u slučaju kada nema fizičke ili psihijatrijske štete ili pogoršanja ne daju tužiocu pravo na naknadu štete. Svaka tužba zbog povrede lica koju može podnijeti živa osoba može se podnijeti i poslije njene smrti u korist njene imovine.
  2. Zahtjevi koji proističu iz činjenice da je smrt nastupila usljed nemara podnose se u skladu sa Zakonom o fatalnim nesrećama iz 1976. ili Zakonom o pravnoj reformi (Razne odredbe) iz 1934. Prvi omogućuje onima koji su bili finansijski zavisni od preminulog da dobiju naknadu štete zbog gubitka izdržavanja. Šema prema Zakonu iz 1976. je kompenzatorna i sem iznosa od 7.500 funti sterlinga koji se daje kao naknada za gubitak bliske osobe supružniku preminulog ili roditelju preminulog djeteta koje je u vrijeme smrti bilo mlađe od 18 godina, naknada štete se dodjeljuje tako da odražava gubitak finansijske podrške. Drugi zakon omogućuje dobijanje naknade štete u ime imovine preminulog, i može obuhvatiti bilo koje pravo na tužbu koje je preminulo lice imalo u vrijeme smrti, kao i troškove sahrane.

PRAVO

I.   NAVODNA POVREDA ČLANA 3 KONVENCIJE

42. Član 3 Konvencije glasi:

„Niko ne smije biti podvrgnut mučenju, ili nečovječnom ili ponižavajućem postupanju ili kažnjavanju.“

A. Podnesci strana u postupku

  1. Podnosioci predstavke žalili su se da su zatvorske vlasti postupale prema Judith McGlinchey nečovječno i ponižavajuće tokom vremena koje je ona provela u zatvoru. Oni su tvrdili da su zatvorske vlasti propustile da joj daju ljekove za astmu i da joj nijesu dati lekovi za njeno odvikavanje od heroina. Jednom prilikom zatvorske vlasti su namjerno propustile da joj daju injekciju, što je bila kazna za njeno loše ponašanje. Zatvorske vlasti su takođe dozvolile da dehidrira i nepotrebno povraća i neopravdano su odložile njeno prebacivanje u civilnu bolnicu, gdje je mogla da dobije stručni tretman. Bila je prinuđena da čisti povraćeni sadržaj u svojoj ćeliji i ostavljena je da leži u onome što je povratila. Skrenuli su pažnju na ranjivost Judith McGlinchey, na period u kome je patila od ozbiljnih simptoma i na činjenicu da nije bila zatvorenik kod koga je postojao veliki bezbjednosni rizik.
  2. Država je tvrdila da je Judith McGlinchey dobila odgovarajuće liječenje za simptome odvikavanja i da je prebačena u bolnicu čim je postalo jasno da njeno stanje zahtjeva intenzivniji medicinski tretman od onog koji je u zatvoru mogao da bude obezbjeđen. Naročito je istaknuto da je dobila lijek protiv povraćanja koji joj je, u skladu s uputstvima zatvorskog ljekara, davan putem injekcija u više navrata. Kada ga nije dobila 8. decembra 1998. to je bilo na osnovu uputstva ljekara, zbog pada krvnog pritiska Judith McGlinchey. Nema dokaza da je ostavljena da sama očisti ono što je povratila, a praksa je da medicinsko osoblje reguliše sve takve situacije. Mada je zapaženo da je bila ulijepljena povraćenim sadržajem kada je stigla u bolnicu, to je objašnjeno brzinom koja je bila neophodna da bi bila hitno dopremljena u bolnicu kada je kolabirala, a ne namjernim odbijanjem osoblja da je očisti.

B. Ocjena Suda

1. Opšta načela

  1. Sud ponovo ističe da zlostavljanje mora dostići minimalni nivo ozbiljnosti da bi bilo obuhvaćeno članom 3. Određivanje minimuma je relativno: zavisi od svih okolnosti slučaja, kao što su trajanje takvog postupanja, fizičko i/ili mentalno dejstvo postupanja i, u nekim slučajevima, pol, starost i zdravstveno stanje žrtve (vidi, uz ostale izvore, Tekin protiv Turske, presuda od 9. juna 1998, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1998-IV, str. 1517, st. 52).
  2. Prema ovoj odredbi, država mora da obezbjedi da osoba bude zatvorena u uslovima koji odgovaraju njenom ljudskom dostojanstvu, da način i metod izvršenja mjere tu osobu ne izlažu neprijatnostima ili teškoćama onog intenziteta koji prevazilazi nivo patnje koji neizbježno ide uz zatvaranje i da, s obzirom na praktične zahtjeve koje nosi sa sobom boravak u zatvoru, zdravlje i dobrobit takve osobe budu adekvatno obezbjeđeni time što joj se, između ostalog, pruža neophodna medicinska pomoć (vidi, mutatis mutandis, Aerts protiv Belgije, presuda od 30. jula 1998, Reports 1998-V, str. 1966, st. 64 i dalje, i Kudła protiv Poljske [GC], br. 30210/96, st. 94, ECHR 2000-XI).

2. Primjena u ovom predmetu

  1. Sud primjećuje da su podnosioci predstavke iznijeli niz pritužbi zbog toga što su zatvorske vlasti prema Judith McGlinchey postupale nečovječno i ponižavajuće, dok je Država tvrdila da je ona primila odgovarajuće ljekove za simptome odvikavanja i da je premještena u bolnicu čim je postalo jasno da njeno stanje zahtjeva intenzivniji medicinski postupak od onoga koji zatvor može da obezbjedi.
  2. U pogledu tvrdnji da zatvorske vlasti nijesu Judith McGlinchey dale ljekove za njeno odvikavanje od heroina kažnjavajući je na taj način, Sud konstatuje da medicinska dokumentacija pokazuje da propisani lijek Lofexidine nije dat u podne 8. decembra 1998. Iako su se podnosioci predstavki žalili da je lijek uskraćen zbog lošeg ponašanja, Država je tvrdila da je u stvari izostavljen u skladu s uputstvima koje je ljekar dao zbog pada krvnog pritiska Judith McGlinchey. To potvrđuju bilješke o liječenju koje su ukazivale da u slučaju ovog lijeka treba pratiti krvni pritisak i da je u to vrijeme kod Judith McGlinchey zabilježen pad krvnog pritiska. Bilješke isto tako pokazuju da je nju tog jutra pregledao medicinski tehničar i da je ljekar potpisao dokumentaciju o ljekovima.
  3. Dok u bilješkama medicinskog osoblja poslije podatka o izostavljanju doze lijeka postoji bilješka o tome da je Judith McGlinchey bacila šolju čaja na drugi kraj prostorije i potom bila „zaključana za vrijeme obuke“, na saslušanju pred porotom je objašnjeno da je uobičajeni postupak za zatvorenike koji ne idu na časove da budu zatvoreni u svojim sobama za to vrijeme. Stoga Sud smatra da nije dokazano da je to što Judith McGlinchey nije dobila olakšanje za svoje simptome odvikavanja predstavljalo kaznenu mjeru.
  4. U pogledu tvrdnji da je Judith McGlinchey ostavljena da leži u onome što je povraćala, Država je istakla da se čini da to proističe iz komentara bolničkog osoblja da su kosa i odjeća Judith McGlinchey kada je stigla u bolnicu bili ulijepljeni povraćenim sadržajem. Medicinski i bolnički zapisi ukazuju da tokom noći nije uočeno da je Judith McGlinchey povraćala i da je ujutro kolabirala, povraćajući. Sud ne smatra da to što Judith McGlinchey nije na odgovarajući način očišćena, u situaciji kada je bilo potrebno da hitno bude prebačena u bolnicu, ukazuje na postupanje koji bi moglo biti okarakterisano kao ponižavajuće. Što se tiče pritužbi koje je iznijela majci da mora da čisti ono što je povratila, u bolničkoj ili zatvorskoj dokumentaciji nema dokaza za ovu tvrdnju, mada jedan zapis govori o tome da je Judith McGlinchey odbila da čisti svoju ćeliju. Država je, oslanjajući se na izjavu glavne medicinske sestre, tvrdila da je riječ o opštem zahtjevu za održavanjem urednosti, a ne o reagovanju na incident s povraćanjem. Država je iznijela da jeste praksa da medicinske sestre očiste svaki povraćeni sadržaj koji je stigao na pod ili na druga mjesta u ćeliji. Sud smatra da nema dovoljno materijala da donese zaključak po ovom pitanju.
  5. U pogledu tvrdnje da nije dat lijek protiv astme, Sud primjećuje da bilješke medicinskog osoblja ukazuju da su inhalatori dati 7. decembra 1998. tokom noći kada je primjećeno da Judith McGlinchey pišti („vizing“). Kada se radi o nepravilnosti u davanju antibiotika za liječenje ruke Judith McGlinchey koju pominju podnosioci predstavke, izgleda da je od dvadeset doza za petodnevni period propušteno oko četiri. Sestra N. tokom saslušanja pred porotom nije to mogla da objasni, ali je sugerisala mogućnost da je medicinska sestra o kojoj je riječ zaboravila da popuni dokumentaciju o ljekovima. U svakom slučaju, to ukazuje na propust u postupku, koji je za žaljenje. U materijalu koji je dobio, međutim, Sud nije našao nikakve dokaze koji bi pokazali da je ovaj propust imao negativno dejstvo na stanje Judith McGlinchey ili da je uzrokovao bilo kakvu smetnju.
  6. Najzad, Sud je razmatrao pritužbe da pri tretiranju simptoma Judith McGlinchey u pogledu odvikavanja od heroina, sprječavanju njenih patnji ili sprječavanju da se pogorša njeno stanje nije učinjeno dovoljno, ili nije učinjeno dovoljno brzo.
  7. Sud primjećuje da je medicinska sestra pregledala Judith McGlinchey prilikom prijema u zatvor 7. decembra 1998. Dr K, zatvorski ljekar, pregledao ju je 8. decembra 1998. i odredio tok liječenja za niz problema koje je imala. Za simptome odvikavanja od heroina on je prvobitno propisao lijek za odvikavanje, Lofexidine. Jedna doza ovog lijeka je izostavljena u podne zbog njenog niskog krvnog pritiska. Desetog decembra 1998. opet ju je pregledao dr K, koji je propisao intra-muskularnu injekciju za simptome odvikavanja koje je i dalje imala. Nije ustanovio znake dehidriranosti i veći značaj je pridao svom kliničkom utisku nego očiglednom padu njene težine s 50 kg na 43 kg, pošto je bilo poznato da postoji nesaglasnost između vaga koje se koriste na prijemu i onih u zdravstvenom centru. Međutim, bio je svjestan da postoji mogući problem i dao je uputstva da se prati njena težina. Jedanaestog decembra 1998. dr K. ju je ponovo pregledao i nije našao znake dehidratacije i smatrao je da je njeno stanje generalno stabilno. Odredio je da se da još jedna injekcija, za koju je primjećeno da ima određeno dejstvo pošto je bila u stanju da zadrži tečnosti tokom ostatka tog dana. Određeno je da se tokom vikenda nastavi s oralnim dozama lijeka protiv povraćanja. Bilješke medicinskog osoblja ukazuju da su tokom tog perioda medicinske sestre dale lijek protiv mučnine da bi pomogle Judith McGlinchey s njenim simptomima i da su je podsticale da uzima tečnost.
  8. Mada zbog toga izgleda kao da je stanje Judith McGlinchey od 7. do 12. decembra 1998. bilo stalno praćeno i da su ljekari i medicinsko osoblje preduzimali korake kojima su reagovali na simptome odvikavanja Judith McGlinchey, Sud konstatuje da je ona tokom tog perioda često povraćala, da je uzimala veoma malo hrane i značajno gubila na težini u neutvrđenoj mjeri. Iako su injekcije davane dva puta, to je imalo, u najboljem slučaju, kratkoročni efekat i do večeri 11. decembra 1998. ona je opet povraćala. Prema mišljenju Suda, dokazi o bilo kakvom poboljšanju njenog stanja u tom trenutku su slabi.
  9. Naredna dva dana, tokom vikenda, u skladu s načinom regulisanja radnog vremena zaposlenih u zatvoru, dr K. nije bio prisutan. Ljekar na zamjeni posjetio je zatvor u subotu ujutro, 12. decembra, ali dokumentacija ne ukazuje na to da je on vidio Judith McGlinchey. Ako bi bio potreban ljekar u bilo koje drugo vrijeme tokom vikenda, od medicinskog osoblja se očekuje da pozove ljekara ili organizuje premještaj u bolnicu. Stoga izgleda da tokom dva dana ljekar nije pregledao Judith McGlinchey. Dvanaestog decembra 1998. konstatovano je da su joj temperatura, krvni pritisak i puls normalni. Međutim, ona je nastavila da povraća i zabilježeno je da je njena težina pala na 40 kg, što je dalji pad od 3 kg od 9. decembra i mogući pad od 10 kg od vremena kada je primljena, pet dana prije toga. Bez obzira na ovo dalje pogoršanje, medicinsko osoblje nije vidjelo nikakav razlog za uzbunu ili potrebu da se dobije ljekarsko mišljenje o njenom stanju.
  10. Država je ukazala na pozitivne znake tokom tog perioda – da je bolje spavala tokom noći i da je 13. decembra uzela mali obrok. Međutim, ona je povraćala oba ta dana i poslije pomenutog obroka. Dr K. je naglasio da su sve vrijeme njeni vitalni pokazatelji bili unutar normalnih vrijednosti, a da bi se očekivalo da osoba koja je ozbiljno dehidrirala pokaže iscrpljenost i fizičke simptome koji se mogu identifikovati, što nije bio slučaj sa Judith McGlinchey. Međutim, tokom saslušanja pred porotom, dr Tobin je izneo stav da su, iako nije bilo konkretne analize koja bi ustanovila da je Judith McGlinchey dehidrirala prilikom prijema u bolnicu usljed toga što nije bilo moguće uvesti centralni venski kateter, postojale snažne indikacije u prilog tome. Mada bi se nalazi mogli pripisati značajnom gubitku krvi, jedna epizoda povraćanja sadržaja koji izgleda kao talog kafe ne bi pružala zadovoljavajuće objašnjenje.
  11. Dokazi ukazuju Sudu da je do jutra 14. decembra 1988. Judith McGlinchey, heroinski zavisnik čija uhranjenost i opšte zdravstveno stanje nijesu bili dobri prilikom prijema u zatvor, pretrpjela značajan gubitak težine i da je dehidrirala. To je bilo posledica činjenice da je tokom cijele nedjelje imala simptome uglavnom nekontrolisanog povraćanja i toga što nije bila u mogućnosti da jede i zadrži tečnost. Ova situacija, sem što je uzrokovala neprijatnosti i patnju za Judith McGlinchey, predstavljala je vrlo ozbiljan rizik po njeno zdravlje, što se vidjelo i po tome što je kolabirala. Imajući u vidu odgovornost zatvorskih vlasti da obezbjede neophodnu medicinsku zaštitu za zatvorena lica, Sud smatra da je u ovom slučaju bilo propusta u poštovanju standarda koje predviđa član 3 Konvencije. On konstatuje u tom kontekstu propust zatvorskih vlasti da obezbjede precizna sredstva za konstatovanje gubitka težine Judith McGlinchey, što je bio faktor koji bi upozorio zatvor na ozbiljnost njenog stanja, a zbog neusaglašenosti vaga gubitak težine je bio uglavnom zanemarivan. Postoji praznina u nadgledanju njenog stanja od strane ljekara tokom vikenda, kada je došlo do daljeg značajnog gubitka težine i kada su zatvorske vlasti propustile da preduzmu djelotvornije korake u liječenju Judith McGlinchey, kao što je prijem u bolnicu kako bi se obezbjedilo intravensko davanje ljekova i tečnosti, ili da bi se dobila stručnija pomoć za kontrolisanje njenog povraćanja.
  12. Sud zaključuje da je način na koji su zatvorske vlasti postupale s Judith McGlinchey u suprotnosti sa zabranom nečovječnog ili ponižavajućeg postupanja sadržanom u članu 3 Konvencije.

II. NAVODNA POVREDA ČLANA 13 KONVENCIJE

59. Član 13 Konvencije predviđa:

„Svako kome su povrijeđena prava i slobode predviđeni u ovoj Konvenciji ima pravo na djelotvoran pravni lijek pred nacionalnim vlastima, bez obzira na to da li su povredu izvršila lica koja su postupala u službenom svojstvu.“

A. Podnesci strana u postupku

  1. Podnosioci predstavke tvrdili su da ne postoji odgovarajući pravni lijek za njihove pritužbe na postupanje prema Judith McGlinchey u zatvoru, ili lijek koji bi se odnosio na nedostatke u upravljanju i politici koji su dozvolili da dođe do zanemarivanja i zlostavljanja. Svaki osnov za podnošenje tužbe zbog nemara zavisio je od uspostavljanja neophodne uzročne veze između radnji zanemarivanja i smrti i/ili lične povrede, čega nije bilo u ovom slučaju. Postupanje o kome je riječ ipak je bilo nečovječno i ponižavajuće postupanje u suprotnosti s članom 3 Konvencije. Nijesu postojali nikakvi drugi ljekovi koji bi omogućili da se dobije naknada i na osnovu kojih bi se dobilo priznanje da je bilo povrede prava.
  2. Država je izjavila da su bili dostupni ljekovi u skladu sa zahtjevima člana 13 Konvencije. Judith McGlinchey mogla je da koristi interni zatvorski sistem za žalbe kako bi se požalila na postupanje. Nepodnošljivi uslovi u zatvoru takođe su predstavljali odgovarajući osnov za pokretanje postupka pred sudom. Podnosioci predstavke su imali na raspolaganju niz osnova za pokretanje postupaka, uključujući nemar i nesavjesno vršenje javne službe. Ovdje se ne radi o slučaju kada domaće zakonodavstvo uopšte ne daje osnov za pokretanje postupka koji se može iskoristiti. Okolnost da podnosioci predstavke nijesu mogli činjenično da dokažu zanemarivanje ne znači da nije bilo ljekova na raspolaganju.

B. Ocjena Suda

  1. Sud ponovo ističe da član 13 Konvencije garantuje da će na nacionalnom nivou postojati raspoloživ pravni lijek za sprovođenje suštine prava i sloboda iz Konvencije bez obzira na to na koji način su obezbjeđeni u domaćem pravnom poretku. Dejstvo člana 13 na taj način jeste da zahtjeva da se obezbjedi domaći pravni lijek koji će se odnositi na suštinu „dokazive“ pritužbe na osnovu Konvencije i da se dodijeli odgovarajuće zadovoljenje, iako je državama ugovornicama data određena sloboda u pogledu načina na koji će se pridržavati svojih obaveza iz Konvencije predviđenih u ovom članu. Opseg obaveza prema članu 13 je različit zavisno od toga kakva je prema Konvenciji priroda žalbe podnosioca. Ipak, pravni lijek koji zahtjeva član 13 mora biti „djelotvoran“ u praksi, i, kao takav, predviđen zakonom (vidi Aksoy protiv Turske, presuda od 18. decembra 1996, Reports 1996-VI, str. 2286, st. 95; Aydın protiv Turske, presuda od 25. septembra 1997, Reports 1997-VI, str. 1895–96, st. 103; i Kaya protiv Turske, presuda od 19. februara 1998, Reports 1998-I, str. 329–30, st. 106).
  2. U slučaju kršenja članova 2 i 3 Konvencije, koji se smatraju suštinskim odredbama Konvencije, naknada nematerijalne štete prouzrokovane kršenjem bi u načelu trebalo da spada u raspoložive pravne ljekove (vidi Z i ostali protiv Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva [GC], br. 29392/95, st. 109, ECHR 2001-V).
  3. Na osnovu dokaza predočenih u ovom predmetu Sud je ustanovio da je tužena država odgovorna na osnovu člana 3 Konvencije za nečovječno i ponižavajuće postupanje kome je bila izložena Judith McGlinchey prije nego što je kolabirala u zatvoru. Žalbe podnosilaca predstavke u tom pogledu su stoga „dokazive“ u smislu člana 13 u vezi s članom 3 Konvencije (vidi Boyle i Rice protiv Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva, presuda od 27. aprila 1988, Series A no. 131, str. 23, st. 52; Kaya, citirano gore, str. 330–31, st. 107; i Yaşa protiv Turske, presuda od 2. septembra 1998, Reports 1998-VI, str. 2442, st. 113).
  4. Mada je Država ukazala na interne pravne ljekove u zatvoru koje je Judith McGlinchey imala na raspolaganju da bi se žalila na bilo kakvo zlostavljanje prije nego što je umrla, Sud primjećuje da oni ne obezbjeđuju nikakvo pravo na naknadu za već doživljenu patnju. Sud je već ustanovio, u svojoj odluci o prihvatljivosti, da se ne može pokrenuti postupak zbog zanemarivanja pred građanskim sudovima kada sporno ponašanje nije bilo dovoljno da izazove fizičku ili psihološku povredu. Nije očigledno da bi naknada štete mogla biti određena po drugom osnovu pokretanjem sudskog postupka, koji je Judith McGlinchey mogla da pokrene tvrdeći da je zatvor propustio da izvrši svoju obavezu da o njoj dok je u zatvoru vodi brigu u razumnoj mjeri, i koji je mogao da posluži kao sredstvo da se ispita način na koji su zatvorske vlasti obavljale svoje dužnosti. Iako je Država tvrdila da nemogućnost da se zahtjeva naknada štete proističe iz činjenica vezanih za ovu situaciju, a ne iz propusta u zakonu, ostaje činjenica da prema engleskom pravu ne postoji mogućnost naknade štete za patnje i neprijatnosti za koje je gore konstatovano da predstavljaju kršenje člana 3 Konvencije.
  5. Postavlja se pitanje da li član 13 u ovom kontekstu zahtjeva da naknada bude na raspolaganju. Sam Sud će često odobriti pravično zadovoljenje, prihvatajući da patnja, stres, strah i frustracija čine naknadu nematerijalne štete prikladnom. U slučaju kršenja članova 2 i 3 Konvencije, koji se smatraju suštinskim odredbama Konvencije, naknada za nematerijalnu štetu nastalu zbog kršenja bi u načelu trebalo da bude dostupna kao jedan od mogućih pravnih ljekova.
  6. Zato u ovom slučaju Sud zaključuje da je trebalo da postoji mogućnost da Judith McGlinchey, ili podnosioci predstavke koji djeluju u njeno ime poslije njene smrti, traže naknadu za nematerijalnu štetu koju je ona pretrpjela. Pošto nije bilo lijeka koji obezbjeđuje mehanizam za ispitivanje standarda njege koja je pružena Judith McGlinchey u zatvoru i mogućnosti za dobijanje naknade, došlo je do povrede člana 13 Konvencije.

III. PRIMJENA ČLANA 41 KONVENCIJE

68. Član 41 Konvencije predviđa:

„Kada Sud utvrdi prekršaj Konvencije ili protokola uz nju, a unutrašnje pravo Visoke strane ugovornice u pitanju omogućava samo djelimičnu odštetu, Sud će, ako je to potrebno, pružiti pravično zadovoljenje oštećenoj stranci“.

A. Šteta

  1. Podnositelji predstavke su tražili naknadu štete zbog postupanja prema Judith McGlinchey u ime njene imovine i zbog njihovog sopstvenog šoka i uznemirenosti zbog patnji koje je Judith McGlinchey doživjela. Oni su tvrdili da joj je pružena nedovoljna i neodgovarajuća medicinska njega i da je time izložena nepotrebnoj patnji, uključujući sedam dana neprestanog povraćanja, nesposobnost da jede ili pije i akutni strah i mentalnu uznemirenost, uključujući uvjerenje da će umrijeti. Oni su takođe ukazali na svoje uvjerenje da je bila primorana da čisti sama ono što je povratila i da je kažnjena tako što su joj ukinuti ljekovi. Oni su isto tako ukazali na uznemirenost i bol koji su oni pretrpjeli kada su shvatili okolnosti u kojima je njihova kći/majka provela posljednje svjesne dane i sate. Tražili su iznos od 20.000 funti sterlinga (GBP).
  2. Država se nije izjasnila povodom ovog zahtjeva.
  3. Sud konstatuje da je zaključio da postoji povreda člana 3 kad je riječ o nedostacima u tretmanu koji je Judith McGlinchey imala dok je bila u zatvoru. Međutim, nije ustanovio da je Judith McGlinchey bila prisiljavana da čisti ono što je povratila ili da su joj bili uskraćeni ljekovi kao kaznena mjera. Konstatujući da je veliki deo patnji Judith McGlinchey poticao od samog odvikavanja od heroina, ali i da je propust zatvorskih vlasti da se preduzmu djelotvornije mjere za liječenje simptoma odvikavanja i pogoršano stanje sigurno doprinio njenim bolovima i patnji, Sud je odlučio, procjenjujući okolnosti na pravičnoj osnovi, da odobri iznos od 11500 evra (EUR) na ime imovine Judith McGlinchey i 3800 EUR svakom od podnosilaca predstavke, što čini iznos od ukupno 22900 EUR.

B. Sudski troškovi

  1. Podnosioci predstavke su tražili 5480,54 funti na ime pravnih troškova koje su imali u domaćim postupcima. To obuhvata troškove zastupanja tokom saslušanja pred porotom i traženja savjeta o uzrocima smrti Judith McGlinchey i o postojanju domaćih pravnih ljekova. Tražili su 844,43 funti, uključujući porez na dodatu vrijednost, na ime troškova i izdataka koje su imali da bi iznijeli predmet pred Sud u Strazburu. Ukupni traženi iznos je 6324,97 funti.
  2. Država nije komentarisala ove zahtjeve.
  3. Sud primjećuje da su troškovi koji su nastali zbog dobijanja pravnih savjeta i prisustvovanja saslušanju pred porotom bili povezani barem delimično s pitanjima koja se tiču uzroka smrti Judith McGlinchey i bilo kakve moguće odgovornosti vlasti. Pritužba na osnovu člana 2 Konvencije, međutim, nije bila podnijeta Sudu. Za ove troškove, procenjujući okolnosti na pravičnoj osnovi, Sud odobrava 7500 EUR.

C. Kamata

  1. Sud smatra da je primjereno da važeća kamatna stopa bude ona koja će se temeljiti na prosječnoj kamatnoj stopi na kredite Evropske centralne banke, na koju treba dodati još tri procentna poena.

IZ TIH RAZLOGA, SUD

  1. Zaključuje, sa šest glasova naspram jednog, da je prekršen član 3 Konvencije;

  2. Zaključuje jednoglasno da je prekršen član 13 Konvencije;

  3. Zaključuje jednoglasno

(a)    da tužena država treba da plati podnosiocima predstavke, u roku od tri mjeseca od dana kada ova presuda postane pravosnažna u skladu sa članom 44, st. 2 Konvencije, uz bilo koje poreze koji će možda biti primjenjivi, sljedeće iznose koji će biti preračunati u funte sterlinga po kursu koji važi na dan isplate:

(i)     22900 EUR (dvadeset dvije hiljade devet stotina evra) na ime nematerijalne štete;

(ii)   7500 EUR (sedam hiljada pet stotina evra) na ime sudskih troškova;

(b)   da će od dana isteka pomenuta tri mjeseca do isplate na navedenu svotu biti zaračunavana kamata koja se plaća samo na glavnicu po stopi koja odgovara povećanoj kreditnoj i kamatnoj stopi Evropske centralne banke, dodatno uvećanoj za tri procentna poena;

  1. Odbija jednoglasno ostale zahtjeve podnosilaca predstavke za pravično zadovoljenje.

Presuda je izrađena na engleskom jeziku i dostavljena stranama u postupku 29. aprila 2003. godine, u skladu s pravilom 77, stavovi 2 i 3 Poslovnika Suda

      Lawrence Early

Jean-Paul Costa

     zamjenik sekretara

Predsjednik

U skladu sa članom 45, st. 2 Konvencije i pravilom 74, st. 2 Poslovnika Suda, ovoj presudi priložena su sljedeća izdvojena mišljenja:

(a)   saglasno mišljenje g. Coste;

(b)   djelimično nesaglasno mišljenje ser Nicolasa Bratze.

 

SAGLASNO MIŠLJENJE SUDIJE COSTE

Na kraju, pošto sam odmjerio razloge za i protiv u ovom teškom slučaju, ustanovio sam kršenje člana 3 Konvencije. Međutim, želio bih da objasnim svoje stavove s obzirom na to da ih presuda, s kojom se u najvećem dijelu slažem, ne odražava u potpunosti.

1. Konstatovao bih, prije svega, jer mislim da treba to da kažem, da u ovom predmetu nijesam uočio nikakvu namjeru britanskih pravosudnih, zatvorskih ili medicinskih vlasti da ponize ili maltretiraju Judith McGlinchey, koja je osuđena na četiri mjeseca zatvora i u skladu s tim smještena u zatvor Nju Hol u Vejkfildu 7. decembra 1998. Ali želeo bih odmah da dodam da po mišljenju Suda „odsustvo takve svrhe ne može sa sigurnošću isključiti zaključak da je bilo kršenja člana 3“ (vidi V. protiv Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva, br. 24888/94, st. 71, ECHR 1999-IX, i Peers protiv Grčke, br. 28524/95, st. 74, ECHR 2001-III). Ova sudska praksa se mora uzeti u obzir.

2. Isto tako ne mislim da je poželjno smanjivati prag ozbiljnosti ispod koga Sud neće smatrati da je postupanje nečovječno ili ponižavajuće. Ne treba degradirati član 3 i trivijalizovati ga pretjeranim korišćenjem. Međutim, smatram da sadašnja presuda ne snižava taj prag. Štaviše, čvrsto vjerujem da činjenice u ovom predmetu ne treba da budu ocejnjene na osnovu „naknadne pameti“, niti bi trebalo da budemo pod uticajem činjenice da je Judith McGlinchey nažalost umrla, 3. januara 1999, usljed posljedica prestanka rada srca do koga je došlo 14. decembra 1998. Ali, iz razloga koje ću navesti, čak i ako ograničim svoju pažnju na stanje u vrijeme njenog smještanja u zatvor, nezavisno od tragičnog ishoda, mogu zaključiti da je postupanje kom je bila izložena Judith McGlinchey objektivno bilo nečovječno i/ili ponižavajuće.

3. Po mom mišljenju, ono što je važno je veza između činjenica. Žrtva je bila heroinski zavisnik i patila je od astme – zbog toga je tokom prethodne godine šest puta primljena u bolnicu. Uprkos njenom veoma lošem zdravstvenom stanju, žrtva je osuđena na zatvorsku kaznu, iako je postojao alternativni predlog za uslovnu kaznu. Čim je primljena u zatvor Nju Hol počela je da pati od čestih napada povraćanja. Iako je tvrdila da je željela da se odvikne od heroina i zatvorski ljekar joj je odmah propisao lijek za olakšavanje simptoma odvikavanja, ovaj lijek joj nije dat njenog drugog dana u zatvoru (možda opravdano, ali ta činjenica stoji). Isto tako, dva puta je zaključana u ćeliji jer je bila kažnjena zbog lošeg ponašanja. Ali prije svega, povraćanje nije prestajalo, danju i noću, i bilo je praćeno strmoglavim i ozbiljnim gubitkom težine – 7 kg za četrdeset osam sati i 10 kg između ponedjeljka, kada je stigla, i naredne subote. Mogu da prihvatim da odsustvo zatvorskog ljekara tokom vikenda nije bilo odlučujući faktor, pošto je bio prisutan ljekar koji radi kao zamjena, i mogla je tražiti da je on pregleda. Ali ne mogu da razumijem zašto zatvorenica nije odvedena u bolnicu tokom prvih nekoliko dana izdržavanja kazne, kada je stalno povraćala, izgubila 20% svoje telesne težine u roku od pet dana, a znalo se da istovremeno pokušava da se odvikne od droge. Tek u ponedjeljak ujutro, što je nedjelju dana nakon što je počela izdržavanje kazne, hitna pomoć prevezla ju je u bolnicu, jer je kolabirala i izgled onoga što je povratila je otkrio prisustvo krvi u njenom želucu. Ta veza među činjenicama je razlog što smo ja i većina mojih kolega zaključili da je riječ o povredi člana 3.

4. Štaviše, ovaj zaključak mora biti smješten u širi kontekst, koji se tiče specijalnog tretmana koji treba dati zatvorenicima čije zdravstveno stanje daje razloga za zabrinutost. U slučajevima kao što je slučaj ove žrtve, ta zabrinutost bi čak mogla da uključi i odluku da je takvo zdravstveno stanje nespojivo sa određivanjem kazne zatvora, ili u svakom slučaju sa daljim lišenjem slobode.

5. Da postoji sve veća svijest o tome da je to neophodno, što je samo po sebi posebno pitanje u odnosu na gore pomenuto pitanje praga patnje koji treba da bude uzet u obzir, vidi se u brojnim instrumentima Savjeta Evrope. Mogao bih da citiram tri preporuke Komiteta ministara upućene državama članicama: Preporuka od 12. februara 1987. o Evropskim zatvorskim pravilima (br. R (87) 3), Preporuka od 8. aprila 1998. koja se tiče etičkih i organizacionih aspekata zdravstvene zaštite u zatvoru (br. R (98) 7) i Preporuka od 29. septembra 2000. o boljem sprovođenju evropskih pravila o sankcijama i mjerama u zajednici (Rec(2000)22). Mogao bih da citiram i treći opšti izvještaj o aktivnostima Evropskog komiteta za sprečavanje mučenja koji pokriva period od 1. januara do 31. decembra 1992. godine, koji uključuje poglavlje (br. 3) o zdravstvenoj zaštiti u zatvorima.

6. Sam naš Sud postaje sve osjetljiviji na ovaj problem. Često je u svojim presudama navodio da ocjena o tome da li postupanje doseže minimalni nivo ozbiljnosti za potrebe primjene člana 3 može zavisiti od pola, godina života i zdravstvenog stanja žrtve (vidi, na primjer, Raninen protiv Finske, presuda od 16. decembra 1997, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1997-VIII, str. 2821– 22, st. 55). Mogao bih isto tako da pomenem, iako su se činjenice razlikovale (zatvorenik je imao ozbiljan invaliditet), Price protiv Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva (br. 33394/96, ECHR 2001-VII), sa izdvojenim mišljenjem ser Nicolasa Bratze, kome sam se pridružio, i izdvojenim mišljenjem sudije Greve; autori ovih mišljenja smatrali su da sam princip da se podnosilac osuđuje na kaznu zatvora nije bio saglasan sa članom 3, obzirom na njeno stanje. Vidi takođe skorašnji predmet Mouisel protiv Francuske (br. 67263/01, ECHR 2002-IX) u kome je Sud jednoglasno zaključio da je došlo do povrede člana 3 s obzirom na uslove tretmana i dalji boravak u zatvoru osobe koja pati od neizlječive bolesti.

7. Ja naravno ne potcjenjujem teškoće s kojima se suočavaju pravosudni organi kada se od njih traži da odrede vrstu kazne za osuđenika u lošem zdravstvenom stanju ili one s kojima se suočavaju zatvorske vlasti i zdravstvene službe kada treba da biraju između tretmana na licu mjesta i prijema u bolnicu van zatvora, naročito s obzirom na to da loše zdravlje nažalost nije rijetkost među zatvorenicima, naročito s obzirom na količinu droge koja kruži među osuđenicima. Ali ako se vratim na ovaj predmet, mislim da su svi ovi organi, sa svoje strane, potcijenili ozbiljnost stanja u kome se nalazila Judith McGlinchey. Prema mom mišljenju, riječ je o takvom nagomilavanju grešaka da je to na kraju predstavljalo kršenje člana 3 Konvencije. Ja bih došao do istog zaključka i da je žrtva preživjela; emocije koje je izazvala njena smrt ne smiju uticati na ocjenu njenog boravka u zatvoru i uslove tretmana kao takvog.

 

DJELIMIČNO NESAGLASNO MIŠLJENJE SUDIJE SER NICOLASA BRATZE

Ja, nažalost, ne mogu da se složim s većinom članova Vijeća da je došlo do povrede člana 3 Konvencije u ovom predmetu.

Opšta načela po kojima se primjenjuje član 3 dobro su sažeta u presudi koju je donijelo Vijeće. Praksa Suda postavlja visok prag, zahtjevajući da zlostavljanje mora dostići minimalni nivo ozbiljnosti da bi spadalo u opseg ovog člana. U konkretnom kontekstu uslova u zatvoru Sud je zaključio, između ostalog, da iako se ne može tumačiti da član 3 postavlja opštu obavezu da se zatvorenik oslobodi iz zdravstvenih razloga, član obavezuje države da obezbjede da zatvorenik boravi u uslovima koji su saglasni s poštovanjem ljudskog dostojanstva i da su, s obzirom na praktične zahtjeve koje proističu iz boravka u zatvoru, zdravlje i dobrobit zatvorenika adekvatno obezbjeđeni time što se, između ostalog, njemu ili njoj obezbjeđuje potrebna medicinska njega (vidi, na primjer, Kudła protiv Poljske [GC], br. 30210/96, st. 93–94, ECHR 2000-XI).

Osnovno pitanje koje se postavlja u ovom slučaju je da li materijal koji je pred Sudom dokazuje u dovoljnoj mjeri da je postupanje zatvorskih vlasti prema Judith McGlinchey, uključujući medicinski tretman, u svim okolnostima u toj mjeri manjkavo da ukazuje na povredu člana 3.

Prilikom odlučivanja o ovom pitanju, ukazujem na početku na dvije stvari koje mi se čine donekle važnim.

Prije svega, nije rečeno, i većina članova Vijeća nije došla do tog zaključka, da je zdravstveno stanje Judith McGlinchey u vrijeme kada je osuđena bilo takvo da uopšte nije trebalo da bude osuđena na zatvor, ili zadržana u zatvoru. U tom pogledu situacija se suštinski razlikuje od one koju je Sud razmatrao u svojoj presudi u predmetu Price protiv Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva (br. 33394/96, ECHR 2001-VII), gdje je povreda člana 3 ustanovljena u predmetu koji se odnosio na podnosioca predstavke čija su sva četiri uda bila nefunkcionalna jer je bila žrtva talomida i imala je brojne zdravstvene probleme, i kojoj je određena kazna zatvora, a da ništa nije učinjeno da se utvrdi da li tamo postoje adekvatna sredstva za postupanje s njom s obzirom na težak stepen invaliditeta. Za razliku od toga, u ovom slučaju nije rečeno ili ustanovljeno da se u postojećim uslovima u zatvoru ne može tretirati zatvorenik koji se odvikava od heroinske zavisnosti, uz dodatnu komplikaciju koju je predstavljalo bolovanje od astme.

Drugo, primjećujem da je Vijeće odbilo nekoliko konkretnih pritužbi o nečovječnom i ponižavajućem postupanju koje su iznijeli podnosioci predstavke, ili ih je smatrao neosnovanim. Vijeće je naročito ustanovilo da je nepotkrijepljena pritužba da je to što McGlinchey nije dobila lijek koji olakšava odvikavanje od heroina predstavljalo kaznenu mjeru, jer medicinske bilješke potvrđuju da propisani lijek nije dat samo jednom prilikom 8. decembra 1998. godine, i to prema uputstvima ljekara zbog pada njenog krvnog pritiska. Vijeće je na sličan način smatralo nepotkrijepljenom tvrdnju da lijek za astmu nije dat, jer bilješke medicinskog osoblja ukazuju da su inhalatori dati kad je kod Judith McGlinchey uočeno zviždanje („vizing“). Što se tiče činjenice da u toku pet dana od ukupno dvadeset doza antibiotika za liječenje ruke Judith McGlinchey četiri ili nijesu date ili nijesu ubilježene u dokumentaciju o ljekovima, iako je konstatovalo da je u svakom slučaju postojao nedostatak u proceduri koji je za žaljenje, Vijeće je ustanovilo da nema ničega što bi pokazalo da je ovaj propust imao bilo kakav negativan efekat na stanje Judith McGlinchey ili da je uzrokovao kod nje bilo kakve smetnje.

Iznijeta je pritužba da nije dovoljno učinjeno, ili da nije učinjeno dovoljno brzo, da bi se Judith McGlinchey tretirala zbog simptoma odvikavanja od heroina koje je ispoljavala, ili da bi se reagovalo na ozbiljno pogoršanje njenog opšteg stanja tokom perioda dok je boravila u zatvoru, i većina je ustanovila da to predstavlja povredu člana 3 Konvencije.

Nije sporno da je prilikom ulaska u zatvor 7. decembra 1998. medicinska sestra pregledala Judith McGlinchey i da je narednog dana pregled obavio zatvorski ljekar, dr K, koji je odredio tok liječenja za njene razne zdravstvene probleme. Kako se vidi iz stavova 53 i 54 presude, stanje Judith McGlinchey je od 7. do 12. decembra bilo predmet redovnog posmatranja od strane medicinskog i bolničkog osoblja u zatvoru, koje je preduzimalo korake da reaguje na njene simptome odvikavanja. Po mom mišljenju, nema indikacija u materijalu koji je pred Sudom da je bila zanemarena ili napuštena da se bori bez pomoći.

Iako je tačno, kako je naglasila većina članova Vijeća, da je tokom tog perioda Judith McGlinchey nastavila da povraća, da jedva da je uzimala hranu i da je gubila na težini, medicinsko i bolničko osoblje je tokom saslušanja pred porotom izjavilo da je njeno stanje ostalo stabilno i da je, i pored toga što je opet povraćala uveče 11. decembra, bilo znakova da se njeno stanje poboljšava. I sestra N. i dr K. izjavili su da Judith McGlinchey nije odavala klinički utisak da je ozbiljno bolesna tokom tog perioda i oboje su konstatovali da je bila aktivna i da se družila s ostalima. Posebno je dr K. izjavio da on, s obzirom na njen krvni pritisak, temperaturu i puls i njen opšti izgled, nije smatrao da ima bilo kakve potrebe da bude primljena u bolnicu van zatvora.

Veću zabrinutost izaziva činjenica da u naredna dva dana – vikend 12. i 13. decembra – dr K. nije bio prisutan u zatvoru i da očigledno nijedan ljekar nije pregledao Judith McGlinchey, mada je ljekar na zameni došao u zatvor u subotu ujutro. Iako je zatvorsko medicinsko osoblje konstatovalo da su temperatura, krvni pritisak i puls Judith McGlinchey bili normalni 12. decembra, kako je izjavljeno tokom saslušanja, isto tako je zabilježeno da je nastavila da povraća i da je njena težina drastično opala na 40 kg – što je smanjenje za 3 kg od 9. decembra i, po svoj prilici, još značajniji gubitak težine od vremena kada je primljena u zatvor.

Međutim, konstatujem da medicinsko osoblje, uprkos gubitku težine, nije smatralo da ima razloga za uzbunu i da nema ničega zbog čega bi zvali ljekara ili organizovali njeno prebacivanje u bolnicu u skladu s postojećom praksom u zatvoru. Zabilježeno je da je Judith McGlinchey 12. decembra provela bolju noć. Tokom 13. decembra, kada je uzela mali obrok i nije povraćala tokom dana, medicinsko osoblje je smatralo da se njeno stanje poboljšava u toj mjeri da je izgledalo da nije potrebno da joj se da propisani lijek protiv povraćanja. Iako je te večeri dva puta povraćala, tokom noći nijesu zapaženi nikakvi problemi. Zatim, mada za mene predstavlja razlog za izvjesnu zabrinutost to što tokom dva dana ljekar kvalifikovan, na primjer, da ustanovi probleme s dehidratacijom nije pregledao Judith McGlinchey, konstatujem da na osnovu dokaza iznijetih tokom saslušanja nije bilo utvrđeno da je Judith McGlinchey bila, u stvari, dehidrirana kada je stigla u bolnicu, nakon što je kolabirala ujutro 14. decembra. Dr Tobin nije bio u stanju da ugradi centralni venski kateter zbog njenog stanja i, mada su po njegovom mišljenju postojali znaci koji ukazuju na dehidriranost, on nije isključio da su oni mogli biti i rezultat značajnog gubitka krvi. Što je još važnije, po mom mišljenju, je činjenica da nijedan od ljekara koji su davali izjave tokom saslušanja nije kritikovao dr K. što je propustio da ranije uputi Judith McGlinchey u bolnicu.

U tim uslovima ja ne mogu da kažem da je na osnovu dokaza pred Sudom ustanovljeno da je način na koji su zatvorske vlasti liječile Judith McGlinchey bio u toj mjeri manjkav da kod nje izazove neprijatnosti u pitanju ili da je bio takav da predstavlja povredu njenih prava prema članu 3.

Kao što je rečeno u presudi, postojali su aspekti organizacije boravka u zatvoru ili njege koji su mogli biti kritikovani, kao na primer nepreciznost vaga za mjerenje, propust da se obezbjede ili ubilejže svi propisani ljekovi, i nedostatak ljekarskog prisustva u zatvoru tokom najvećeg dijela vikenda. Štaviše, da je Judith McGlinchey bila ranije prenijeta u bolnicu, moglo joj je biti pruženo više stručne i možda više palijativne njege. Međutim, čak i uz procjenu napravljenu na osnovu naknadne pameti, nijesam u mogućnosti da zaključim da je pokazano da su zatvorske vlasti podvrgle Judith McGlinchey nečovječnom ili ponižavajućem postupanju.

U skladu s tim, i ne bez određenog ustezanja, glasao sam protiv konstatacije da je došlo do povrede člana 3 Konvencije u ovom slučaju.

Međutim, ovakav zaključak ne znači da predstavka podnosilaca ne spada u domen zaštite predviđene članom 13. Pritužbe nijesu proglašene neprihvatljivim kao očigledno neosnovane i bilo je neophodno razmatranje merituma. Ja sam uvjeren da su različite pritužbe podnosilaca predstavke predstavljale osnov za tvrdnju, koja se može braniti, o tome da je došlo do povrede Konvencije u smislu člana 13 i, iz razloga navedenih u stavovima 71 do 74 presude Vijeća, smatram da su prava podnosilaca predstavke iz ovog člana povrijeđena.

U znak poštovanja prema stavu većine članova Vijeća da su prava Judith McGlinchey iz člana 3 takođe prekršena, glasao sam za puni iznos naknade za nematerijalnu štetu i naknade sudskih troškova navedene u pre sudi.

***

[1] U vezi sa ovim vidi st. 33 u nastavku presude.

[2] Na engleskom „coroner“. U pitanju je organ čija je uloga da utvrdi uzrok smrti u slučajevima kad je smrt bila iznenadna, neočekivana, kad je do nje došlo u inostranstvu, kad je prate bilo kakve sumnjive okolnosti, ili kad je do smrti došlo dok je lice bilo u vlasti države (npr. u zatvoru). U Engleskoj, osoba koja vrši ovu funkciju mora imati obrazovanje i radno iskustvo iz oblasti prava ili medicine.

[3] Saslušanje pred porotom (engl. „inquest“) određuje mrtvozornik kada patolog poslije autopsije ne može da da konačan odgovor o uzroku smrti, a postoji sumnja da smrt nije posljedica prirodnih uzroka. U pitanju je kvazi-sudski postupak, koji vodi mrtvozornik, i tokom koga se ispituju sve okolnosti koje su dovele do smrti.

 _______________________________

Prevod presude je preuzet iz knjige "Zabrana mučenja i nečovječnog ili ponižavajućeg postupanja ili kažnjavanja - izabrane presude Evropskog suda za ljudska prava". Knjiga je objavljena u okviru projekta „Monitoring poštovanja ljudskih prava u ustanovama zatvorenog tipa u Crnoj Gori” koji je Akcija za ljudska prava, kao nosilac projekta, sprovela u saradnji sa Centrom za građansko obrazovanje, Centrom za antidiskriminaciju „Ekvista”, Sigurnom ženskom kućom, Beogradskim centrom za ljudska prava i Letonskim centrom za ljudska prava.

 

 

SECOND SECTION

CASE OF McGLINCHEY AND OTHERS v. THE UNITED KINGDOM

(Application no. 50390/99)

FINAL

29/07/2003

JUDGMENT

STRASBOURG

29 April 2003

In the case of McGlinchey and Others v. the United KingdomThe European Court of Human Rights (Second Section), sitting as a Chamber composed of:

MrJ.-P. CostaPresident,
MrA.B. Baka,
SirNicolas Bratza,
MrL. Loucaides,
MrC. Bîrsan,
MrM. Ugrekhelidze,
MrsA. Mularonijudges,
and Mr T.L. EarlyDeputy Section Registrar,

Having deliberated in private on 28 May 2002 and 1 April 2003, Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on the last mentioned date:

PROCEDURE

1.  The case originated in an application (no. 50390/99) against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by three United Kingdom nationals, Mr Andrew George McGlinchey, Ms Natalie Jane Best and Ms Hilary Davenport (“the applicants”), on 17 June 1999.

2.  The applicants, who had been granted legal aid, were represented by Mr K. Lomax, a lawyer practising in Leeds. The United Kingdom Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr D. Walton, of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London.

3.  The applicants alleged in particular that Judith McGlinchey, the mother of the first two applicants and daughter of the third applicant, had suffered inhuman and degrading treatment in prison prior to her death and that there was no effective remedy available to them concerning this complaint.

4.  The application was allocated to the Third Section of the Court (Rule 52 § 1 of the Rules of Court).

5.  On 1 November 2001 the Court changed the composition of its Sections (Rule 25 § 1). This case was assigned to the newly composed Second Section (Rule 52 § 1). Within that Section, the Chamber that would consider the case (Article 27 § 1 of the Convention) was constituted as provided in Rule 26 § 1.

6.  By a decision of 28 May 2002, the Chamber declared the application admissible.

7.  The Government, but not the applicants, filed observations on the merits (Rule 59 § 1). The Chamber decided, after consulting the parties, that no hearing on the merits was required (Rule 59 § 3 in fine).

THE FACTS

I.  THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

8.  The applicants Andrew George McGlinchey and Natalie Jane Best, born in 1985 and 1990 respectively, are the children of Judith McGlinchey (born in 1968). The applicant Hilary Davenport, born in 1945, is the mother of Judith McGlinchey.

9.  On 3 January 1999, Judith McGlinchey died in Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, whilst in the care of the Home Office of the United Kingdom government as a convicted prisoner.

10.  Judith McGlinchey had a long history of intravenous heroin addiction and was asthmatic, for which she had been admitted to hospital on six occasions during the previous year.

It is purported that Judith McGlinchey had, prior to being imprisoned, told her mother, who now cares for her children Andrew and Natalie, that she wanted rehabilitation assistance to rid herself of the heroin addiction. She told her solicitor that she had tried to refer herself for help but that it was impossible to obtain appointments without inordinate delays.

11.  After having been convicted of theft, Judith McGlinchey was sentenced at Leeds Magistrates’ Court, on 7 December 1998, to four months’ imprisonment, despite an alternative proposal for a probation order with a condition that she be treated for her addiction. Thereafter, she was detained at New Hall Prison, Wakefield. She stated to her solicitor that she intended to use the period in custody as an opportunity to rid herself of her addiction to heroin.

12.  At the health screening on her arrival at the prison on 7 December 1998, Judith McGlinchey was noted as not seeming excessively withdrawn, depressed or anxious. She weighed 50 kg. She complained of swelling to her left arm, withdrawal symptoms from her addiction and suffering from severe asthma especially when withdrawing, and was kept in the health-care centre pending an examination by a doctor. That evening, Judith McGlinchey telephoned her mother complaining of her infected arm and asthma. During the night, when she was observed to be wheezing, she was given an inhaler. She was also given paracetamol.

13.  The prison medical records showed thereafter that she was complaining of withdrawal symptoms and that she was vomiting frequently. The records consisted of the continuous medical record, prescription and administration charts and the nursing assessment notes. Her blood pressure, temperature and pulse were checked daily.

14.  On 8 December 1998 Judith McGlinchey was examined by Dr K., the prison senior medical officer, who prescribed antibiotics for her arm, inhalers for her asthma and medication, Lofexidine, to appease the symptoms of heroin withdrawal. The nursing notes stated that she threw a cup of tea across the cell, was “locked in for education” and that during the night she was very loud and demanding. Lofexidine was not administered at 12 noon. The applicants alleged that this was a punishment, while the Government submitted that it was on the instructions of the doctor due to a drop in Judith McGlinchey’s blood pressure. The entries in the nursing notes show that Judith McGlinchey was seen by a medical officer that morning and the drugs record sheet, signed by Dr K., indicates that after a blood pressure reading of 80/60 the next dose of Lofexidine was omitted at 12 noon.

15.  On 9 December 1998 the record noted that she remained demanding. She had been told to clean her cell prior to education, which was a reference to the routine tidying-up of the cell and in accordance with normal practice. It was noted that she refused to comply. She was locked in during the education period and declined every meal. In the evening her weight was recorded as 43 kg. It was noted that she had vomited during the evening and had complained of vomiting during the night. She was encouraged to take fluids and given two doses of a mild anti-nausea drug (magnesium trisilicate) by the nursing staff.

16.  Her situation was reviewed by Dr K. on 10 December 1998. As stated later in a statement to the coroner dated 4 January 1999, her medical readings (temperature, pulse and blood pressure) remained satisfactory. She did not appear dehydrated – it was noted that her tongue was moist and clean – but as she was still complaining of vomiting she was given an injection of anti-emetic medication. She complained of diarrhoea and stomach cramps to the nurse on duty during the night. A dose of magnesium trisilicate was given for nausea but it was recorded that this had little effect.

17.  On 10 December 1998 Judith McGlinchey called her mother in tears, complaining that despite having been given an injection, she could not stop vomiting and was getting no other medical support to assist her to come off drugs. She said that she was having to clean up her own vomit and thought she was going to die. The Government stated that there was a lavatory in her cell which she would have been able to reach and that the practice was for nursing staff to clean up if vomit landed on the floor or any other area. The only member of staff involved in the care of Judith McGlinchey who remains with the Prison Service and who is head of nursing care at the prison has informed the Government that a prisoner would not have been asked to clean up her own vomit and she has no recollection of Judith McGlinchey being asked to do so.

18.  On 11 December 1998 she was recorded as keeping down a cup of tea and a glass of juice but was vomiting again during the afternoon and evening. At 6.10 a.m. she was found smoking in bed and when asked what the matter was, she replied “nothing”. The next day, she was found to be “opiate positive”.

19.  The doctor examined her on 11 December 1998. She was given a further injection of medication to help with her symptoms. He found her general condition to be stable. In his statement of 4 January 1999 he noted that, following the injection, she was able to keep down oral fluids during the day, although she vomited again in the evening. The Government stated that the doctor checked her for signs of dehydration but did not find any. This was confirmed by Dr K.’s evidence to the coroner. The notes stated that her tongue was moist and clean. In the case of a person who was severely dehydrated, he would have expected the person to be physically very weak and possibly bedridden, to have a fast pulse rate and low blood pressure and, on examination, the eyes would appear sunken, the tongue dry and cracked, the lips drawn and the skin drawn and thin.

20.  On 12 December 1998 she continued to vomit and suffered from diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort. Her weight was recorded as 40 kg. She ate nothing. The nursing notes recorded that she had had a better night. There was a reference: “Continues to vomit on occasions? hand down throat.” The medical record stated that she had been observed with fingers down throat and vomit on her hand.

21.  On 13 December 1998 according to the nursing entries, there was no vomiting complained of or witnessed apart from twice at the beginning of the night. It was also recorded that she ate a small dinner and slept for long periods that night. There were no entries in the medical record on this day. The doctor stated in his statement of 4 January 1999 that on 12 and 13 December 1998 her temperature, pulse and blood pressure all remained within normal limits. Oral doses of anti-emetic drugs (metoclopromide) were prescribed to follow the injections, and administered on four occasions between 10 and 12 December 1998. In her evidence to the coroner, the head of nursing care stated that the drugs were not given on 13 December as Judith McGlinchey had stopped vomiting.

22.  However, at 8.30 a.m. on 14 December 1998, the following was noted in the continuous medical record:

“... went to see inmate in cell, as she got out of bed she collapsed against me vomiting (coffee ground). Laid on floor in recovery position and summoned help. Patient appeared unresponsive and appeared to be having a fit. Ambulance called (999). Regained consciousness, still vomiting, 2 nurses helped her onto bed. Oxygen in situ. ECG taken. Unable to obtain pulse or BP. Unable to gain IV access due to abscesses on arms and previous drug use. Next of kin rung at 0915 hours at Judith’s request, unavailable, son to pass on message within half an hour. Taken to hospital by ambulance. Ambulance arrived at 0845 hours and left at 0853 hours for Pinderfields General Hospital, Wakefield.”

23.  Lots of “coffee-ground” vomit (altered blood in the stomach) was recorded as being found on her bed. Pinderfields Hospital medical records showed that she was admitted at 9.18 a.m. Her mother was informed around that time that Judith McGlinchey was in hospital and that she was ill but had stabilised. She was recorded as being

“... drowsy but movable and responsive. Staff nurse informed me that the white cell count was raised, with abnormal kidney and liver function ... possible diagnosis of ... drug abuse”.

24.  Her mother later learned from the nursing staff that on admission Judith McGlinchey’s hair was matted with vomit.

25.  On 15 December 1998 at 8 a.m., the following entry was recorded:

“Transferred to Ward 7; Ward 7 contacted in the middle of an emergency with her, arrested, but has been resuscitated (sic) and now is having a blood transfusion and an airway [made] ...”

At 10.30 a.m.:

“... Ward 7 contacted to ask if relatives have been informed of deterioration, they are with her now, they are going to reassess her in half an hour and if no improvement turn off the ventilator.”

26.  The hospital informed the family that Judith McGlinchey was in a critical condition and might have suffered brain damage due to the cardiac arrest. Her liver and kidneys were failing and they could not stabilise her. She was ventilated by hand as there were no beds in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The doctors said that they would stop the medication to see if she came round and breathed on her own and, if not, they would leave her. A Roman Catholic priest was called. The family was advised to say goodbye to Judith McGlinchey and did. She then recovered a little and at 7.15 p.m. she was moved to Bradford Royal Infirmary where there was an ICU bed available. She was stable on the ICU ward although she was kept on life support and was heavily sedated.

27.  On 16 December 1998 at 6.45 a.m., Judith McGlinchey’s condition was recorded as stable but critical. At 1 p.m. she was given a very poor prognosis. By 2 p.m. on 18 December 1998, her condition had improved a little. She remained on a ventilator, although sedation had then been stopped. She made jerking movements at times and appeared to be waking up slowly. On the night of 23 December 1998, she opened her eyes and responded to light, although the brain scan did not reveal any activity.

28.  On 27 December 1998 Judith McGlinchey was transferred to Pinderfields General Hospital to the High Dependency Unit and from there to Ward 7. It was recorded on 31 December that although her eyes were open, she remained unresponsive and in a critical condition. On 2 January 1999 her mother visited with the children. Her eyes were open but she appeared dark yellow in colour and making jerky movements associated with brain damage.

29.  On 3 January 1999 the hospital advised the family to go to the hospital immediately. The prison medical record stated that Judith McGlinchey died at 1.30 p.m.

30.  The autopsy report, following the post-mortem examination of 4 January 1999, noted that Judith McGlinchey weighed 41 kg. It stated that although one symptom of heroin withdrawal can be vomiting, the cause of the applicant’s vomiting was never fully established. Episodes of severe vomiting could have caused a tear in the upper gastro-intestinal tract (“a Mallory Weiss tear”) though this would most likely have healed by the time she died. This was the most likely cause of haemorrhaging in the stomach which could result in coffee-ground vomiting. If she had lost a substantial amount of blood, rendering her anaemic, this could have triggered the cardiac arrest. The cardiac arrest precipitated hypoxic brain damage and multi-organ failure with an inevitably fatal outcome.

31.  In a letter dated 18 January 1999, the coroner informed the family that an inquest would be held before a jury. At the inquest, which took place on 6 December, evidence was given by Dr K., the prison doctor, Sister N., the head of nursing care at the prison, the forensic pathologist who carried out the post mortem, three consultants from the Pinderfields and Bradford Hospitals who had been involved in treating Judith McGlinchey and the third applicant, Judith McGlinchey’s mother. The latter was represented during the proceedings by a solicitor who put questions to the witnesses on her behalf.

32.  During the evidence it emerged that the scales used to weigh Judith McGlinchey in prison were inaccurate and incompatible, those used on reception being two to three pounds out compared with those used subsequently in the health-care centre. Due to this discrepancy, Dr K. explained that he placed greater importance on his clinical impressions of Judith McGlinchey regarding any effect of possible weight loss, but was aware of the potential problem and had given instructions for her weight to be monitored. Notwithstanding that antibiotics had been prescribed for her septic arm, it was also indicated that these had not been given to her over a number of days – out of twenty doses that she should have received over five days, she received sixteen. The head of nursing care, Sister N., was unable to explain the omissions although she suggested that the nurse could have forgotten to sign the medicine card.

33.  Both Sister N. and Dr K. gave evidence that Judith McGlinchey did not give a clinical impression of being very ill during this period, stating that she was up and about and associating with others. Dr K. stated that her symptoms had been diminishing and that given her blood pressure, temperature, pulse and her general condition, he had no concern that she was gravely ill or that there was any need to admit her to an outside hospital. It was revealed that Dr K. did not work in the prison on weekends and was not present therefore on 12 and 13 December 1998 before Judith McGlinchey’s collapse. A part-time doctor attended on Saturday mornings and the prison depended on calling a doctor on agency if required. This explained the lack of any record in the notes for 13 December 1998. Sister N. explained that the entry in the nursing notes on 8 December which stated that Judith McGlinchey had been “locked in for education” referred to the routine procedure whereby those prisoners not participating in the education class were detained in their cells during that period.

34.  Evidence was also given by the three consultants who treated Judith McGlinchey in hospital, concerning her state on arrival and her subsequent deterioration. They were unable to say with any certainty what had caused her collapse or the bleeding in her stomach. Dr Tobin considered that she was dehydrated on arrival at hospital but, due to her disturbed state, he was unable to put in a central line which would have allowed an accurate analysis to be made. Under questioning, he stated that the signs consistent with dehydration could also have been caused by fresh bleeding but not by one episode of coffee-ground vomiting.

35.  In his summing-up to the jury, the coroner summarised the evidence as follows:

“... for the first day Judith was admitted in the Health Care Centre ... she was then seen by the doctor, [Dr K.], on the second day, on 8 December. He examined her and made a note. She was still retained in the Health Care Centre but as the week proceeded, Judith started to become unwell. You have heard evidence of the fact that she was a heroin abuser and it was known that if she was to withdraw from heroin she might develop some unpleasant symptoms ... those symptoms might manifest themselves for example with diarrhoea and vomiting, possible stomach cramps, depleted sleep patterns and the like and in fact the information that Judith gave to her mother when she first rang rather gave you the impression that she knew that possibly she was to have a rough road ahead but she was prepared to put up with that.

Certainly throughout that week ... it is well-documented that Judith was vomiting profusely. Although she was given medication for that on occasions it only worked for a very short time and it is fair to say that from about midweek onwards she was vomiting at some stage every day. There was also reference to the fact that she had diarrhoea and she was generally unwell.

Her nutritional state may well have been not all that it should have been and although drinks were available for her there was no means of monitoring how much liquid she was taking in. It was not possible to monitor whether she was actually drinking and vomiting it back or not drinking at all. There was no attempt at measuring fluid during the course of that week and her vomiting actually progressed and on some occasions it was described as a lot of vomiting. It was referred to in the notes “vomiting +++” which means rather a lot and although she was seen by nursing staff every day and by the doctor on other occasions the medical staff at New Hall Prison were under the impression all along that Judith was showing no signs of being dehydrated. In other words, she was not being depleted of fluids and [Dr K.] explained in his evidence his findings and the fact that he could see no real evidence that she was dehydrated at the time and felt that even with hindsight there was no necessity for her to be admitted into hospital.

Almost a week after her admission to [prison] on a particular morning when she woke up ... she virtually collapsed in the presence of nursing staff and she vomited a large amount of ... coffee ground vomit ...

There was some discussion during the evidence ... as to whether Judith had actually had a cardiac arrest at that time. In fact all the doctors who subsequently examined her ... felt that that was not likely to have been the case, although there was certainly a collapse and although she may well have lost a fair amount of blood as a consequence of that. There was no evidence at that particular time that she had experienced a cardiac arrest.

She was taken by ambulance to Pinderfields Hospital ... where she was immediately placed under the care of Dr Tobin ... His working diagnosis at the time was that Judith may well have some degree of liver failure and that there could also be some ... bleeding from the upper gastro-intestinal tract, the oesophagus ... because of the fact that she had vomited the coffee ground vomit.

The evidence of Dr Naomi Carter, the Pathologist ... found some residual material in Judith’s stomach which could well have resembled blood or changed blood but ... was at pains to explain that she could find no source of any bleeding within Judith’s internal organs ... one possible likely cause of the bleed that had produced itself in the coffee ground vomiting was that the retching which she had sustained... might have caused a small tear either in her oesophagus at the point where it reaches the stomach or alternatively in the lining of the stomach itself ... that is a medical condition known as a Mallory Weiss tear but she could not find evidence of that. Her view was that possibly that small tear might well have healed by the time that she saw Judith’s body which was obviously by then some days later. That is the only explanation as to why there was any bleeding ... The significance of that bleed is appropriate because it is highly likely that as a consequence ... Judith will have lost some volume of blood which will have meant that her heart might have had to work harder in order to overcome that and certainly when she was at Pinderfields Hospital she was extremely unwell.

Dr Tobin was of the view that he felt that Judith was in fact dehydrated but he could not prove that specifically because you will recall from Dr Tobin’s evidence that it was not possible for him to insert a central line. Had he been able to do that then it might have been that could have been used as a diagnostic tool ... certainly Dr Tobin was of the opinion that there would seem to be some suggestion that Judith was dehydrated, notwithstanding, according to the medical staff at New Hall, they felt that that was not the case as the week had gone on.

On the morning of 15 December ... unfortunately Judith experienced a cardiac arrest and it was felt that as a consequence of that she had become deprived of oxygen and ... there would have been a deprivation of oxygen to her brain which would have caused her to sustain what was called hypoxic brain damage.

... The post-mortem evidence ... explained the cause of death and Dr Carter was able to confirm that the cause of death was hypoxic brain damage, deprivation of oxygen to the brain, caused by a cardiac arrest which Dr Carter felt was as a consequence of an upper gastro-intestinal haemorrhage of an undetermined cause ...”

36.  The coroner invited the jury to return a verdict of death through natural causes or an open verdict. The jury unanimously returned an open verdict.

37.  Legal aid was granted to the three applicants to pursue domestic remedies for compensation. Their solicitors sent a notice of issue, under cover of a letter dated 12 February 1999, to the Treasury Solicitor requesting disclosure of medical and prison records in view of a claim for damages with respect to the death of Judith McGlinchey.

38.  In a report dated 13 September 2000, the doctor consulted by the applicants stated, inter alia, as follows:

“It is my understanding that repeated vomiting can be a symptom of heroin withdrawal and while I have no personal experience in managing people undergoing a detoxification programme, I would, however, be very unhappy about managing anyone who was vomiting repeatedly, without the use of intravenous fluids, the intravenous administration of anti-emetic drugs and the facility to monitor blood chemistry frequently.

... Judith was severely under weight.

Her poor overall nutritional state was almost certainly longstanding and probably connected to her heroin addiction but any prolonged bout of vomiting, from whatever cause, was likely to cause a serious imbalance of her blood chemistry very quickly. Apart from electrolyte disturbance and dehydration, she would be very likely to have had difficulty maintaining an adequate blood sugar level, as she would have had no reserves in the form of stored carbohydrate substances within the body, that could have been utilised, when she was unable to absorb adequate nutrients from her gastrointestinal system due to her persistent vomiting.

In such circumstances a vicious circle can occur. A low blood sugar level itself can cause more nausea and vomiting. Multiple metabolic pathways can be interfered with. The subject can become irritable. The level of consciousness may be severely reduced and coma can even occur.

Intravenous access is often very difficult in intravenous drug abusers, even for clinicians such as anaesthetists who routinely insert needles. Central lines are likely to be needed. These are special long catheters, often with more than one lumen, that are inserted into major blood vessels close to the heart. I would not expect the average prison medical officer to be proficient in inserting such a line.

It is preferable for these lines to be inserted in hospital, by personnel with the necessary skills. After insertion, the correct positioning ... needs to be checked by Xray before it is used to administer drugs and fluids. Once inserted their maintenance requires skilled, aseptic nursing care ...

I would be inclined to attribute the agitation and apparent lack of cooperation displayed by Judith after her admission ... and before her second collapse to cerebral irritation. Cerebral irritation is often seen following a period of cerebral hypoxia. Certainly, a degree of cerebral hypoxia probably occurred at the time of her collapse [in prison] and continued up to the time that resuscitation was underway at Pinderfields ...

The bleeding that occurred, following a period of persistent and violent vomiting, could certainly have been caused by a Mallory Weiss tear as suggested ... in the autopsy report.

If Judith had been admitted to hospital earlier, it might still have proved difficult to control the vomiting and, in view of her poor general and nutritional state, if the cause of her bleeding was a Mallory Weiss tear, this might still have occurred, but she would not have had such a degree of dehydration and/or biochemical disturbance, and the consequences of such an occurrence would probably have been less serious.

Alternatively, if her vomiting had been brought under control at an earlier stage, the subsequent sad sequence of events might have been prevented.”

39.  In his opinion of 30 October 2000, counsel advised the applicants in the light of this medical report that there was insufficient evidence to establish the necessary causal link between Judith McGlinchey’s death and the allegedly negligent care afforded to her in custody. They did not pursue their claims in negligence.

II.  RELEVANT DOMESTIC LAW

40.  A person who suffers injury, physical or psychiatric, in consequence of the negligence of another may bring an action for damages for that injury. An exacerbation of an existing condition constitutes such injury. Upset and injury to feelings resulting from negligence in the absence of physical or psychiatric damage or exacerbation, do not entitle a plaintiff to damages. Any personal injury action maintainable by a living person survives for the benefit of his estate and may be pursued after his death.

41.  Claims arising from the death of an individual caused by negligence are brought under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 or the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934. The former enables those who were financially dependent upon the deceased to recover damages for the loss of dependency. The scheme of the 1976 Act is compensatory and save for the sum of 7,500 pounds sterling for bereavement to the spouse of a deceased or parent of a deceased child under 18 at the time of death, damages are awarded to reflect the loss of support. The latter enables damages to be recovered on behalf of the deceased’s estate and may include any right of action vested in the deceased at the time of his death together with funeral expenses.

THE LAW

I.  ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 3 OF THE CONVENTION

42.  Article 3 of the Convention provides:

“No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

A.  The parties’ submissions

43.  The applicants complained that the prison authorities inflicted inhuman and degrading treatment on Judith McGlinchey during her detention in prison. They submitted that the prison authorities failed to administer her medication for her asthma and that they did not give her medication for her heroin withdrawal. On one occasion, the prison authorities deliberately omitted giving her an injection as a punishment for her difficult behaviour. The prison authorities also permitted her to dehydrate and vomit unnecessarily and delayed unjustifiably in transferring her to a civilian hospital where she could be expertly treated. She was forced to clean up the vomit in her cell and was left lying in her own vomit. They drew attention to Judith McGlinchey’s vulnerability, the period of time over which she suffered serious symptoms and the fact that she was not a high-security risk prisoner.

44.  The Government submitted that Judith McGlinchey received appropriate medication for her withdrawal symptoms and was transferred to hospital as soon as it became clear that her situation required more intensive medical treatment than the prison could provide. In particular, she was provided with anti-emetic medication, which was, pursuant to the prison doctor’s instructions, injected on a number of occasions. When it was not administered on 8 December 1998, this was on the instructions of the doctor due to a drop in Judith McGlinchey’s blood pressure. There was no evidence that she was left to clean up her own vomit, the practice being for nursing staff to take care of any such necessities. While it was noted that she was soiled with vomit on arrival at the hospital, this was explained by the speed with which she had been rushed to hospital when she collapsed, not by a deliberate refusal to clean her

B.  The Court’s assessment

1.  General principles

45.  The Court reiterates that ill-treatment must attain a minimum level of severity if it is to fall within the scope of Article 3. The assessment of this minimum is relative: it depends on all the circumstances of the case, such as the duration of the treatment, its physical and/or mental effects and, in some cases, the sex, age and state of health of the victim (see, among other authorities, Tekin v. Turkey, judgment of 9 June 1998, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1998-IV, p. 1517, § 52).

46.  Under this provision the State must ensure that a person is detained in conditions which are compatible with respect for her human dignity, that the manner and method of the execution of the measure do not subject her to distress or hardship of an intensity exceeding the unavoidable level of suffering inherent in detention and that, given the practical demands of imprisonment, her health and well-being are adequately secured by, among other things, providing her with the requisite medical assistance (see, mutatis mutandisAerts v. Belgium, judgment of 30 July 1998, Reports 1998-V, p. 1966, §§ 64 et seq., and Kudła v. Poland [GC], no. 30210/96, § 94, ECHR 2000-XI).

2.  Application in the present case

47.  The Court observes that the applicants have raised a number of complaints that the prison authorities inflicted inhuman and degrading treatment on Judith McGlinchey, while the Government have maintained that she received appropriate medication for her withdrawal symptoms and was transferred to hospital as soon as it became clear that her situation required more intensive medical treatment than the prison could provide.

48.  As regards the allegation that the prison authorities failed to provide Judith McGlinchey with medication for her heroin withdrawal as punishment, the Court notes that it appears from the medical records that the prescribed drug Lofexidine was not administered at 12 noon on 8 December 1998. Although the applicants complained that this was withheld for misbehaviour, the Government submitted that it was in fact omitted on the instructions of the doctor due to a drop in Judith McGlinchey’s blood pressure. This is supported by the medication notes which indicated that blood pressure had to be monitored with this drug and a drop in Judith McGlinchey’s blood pressure had been recorded at this time. The notes also showed that she had been seen by the medical officer that morning and the drug record was signed by the doctor.

49.  While there is a reference in the nursing notes, after the entry about omitting the medication, to Judith McGlinchey throwing a cup of tea across the room and then being “locked in for education”, it was explained at the inquest that it was normal procedure for prisoners who were not going to classes to be detained in their rooms during that period. The Court finds therefore that it is not substantiated that relief for her withdrawal symptoms was denied to Judith McGlinchey as a punishment.

50.  As regards the allegation that Judith McGlinchey was left to lie in her vomit, the Government pointed out that this appears to derive from the comments of the hospital staff that when Judith McGlinchey arrived at the hospital her hair and clothing were matted with vomit. The medical and nursing notes indicated that Judith McGlinchey had not been seen to vomit during the night and that she collapsed, vomiting, in the morning. The Court does not find that in the urgency of her immediate transferral to hospital the failure to ensure that Judith McGlinchey was adequately cleaned discloses any element of treatment that could be characterised as degrading. As regards complaints made to her mother that she was having to clean up her own vomit, there is no substantiation of this in the hospital or prison records although one entry refers to Judith McGlinchey refusing to clean her cell. The Government, relying on a statement by the head of nursing care, submitted that this was a general tidying requirement, not in response to a vomiting incident. The Government asserted that the practice was for nurses to clean any vomit which landed on the floor or elsewhere in the cell. The Court finds that there is insufficient material before it to reach any findings on this matter.

51.  As regards the allegation that asthma medicine was not administered, the Court notes that the nursing notes indicate that inhalers were provided on 7 December 1998 during the night when Judith McGlinchey was seen to be wheezing. In so far as the applicants also mentioned irregularity in administering the antibiotic medicine for Judith McGlinchey’s arm, it appears that out of twenty doses over a five day period, some four were omitted. Sister N. was unable to provide an explanation for this at the inquest, although she suggested the possibility that the nurse in question had forgotten to complete the drugs record. In either case, it indicates a regrettable lapse in procedure. However, the Court does not find any evidence in the material before it to show that this failure had any adverse effect on Judith McGlinchey’s condition or caused her any discomfort.

52.  Finally, the Court considered the complaints that not enough was done, or done quickly enough, by way of treating Judith McGlinchey for her heroin withdrawal symptoms, preventing her suffering or a worsening of her condition.

53.  The Court observes that she was screened by a nurse on entry to the prison on 7 December 1998. On 8 December 1998 she was seen by Dr K., the prison doctor who set up a course of treatment for her various problems. For the heroin withdrawal symptoms, he initially prescribed a withdrawal drug, Lofexidine. One dose of this drug was omitted at midday due to her low blood pressure. On 10 December 1998 she was seen again by Dr K., who prescribed an intra-muscular injection for the continuing withdrawal symptoms. He found no signs that she was dehydrated and placed more importance on his clinical impressions than her apparent drop in weight from 50 kg to 43 kg since there was known to be a discrepancy between the scales used on admission and those in the health-care centre. He was aware however that there was a potential problem and gave instructions for her weight to be monitored. On 11 December 1998 she was examined again by Dr K., who found no signs of dehydration and considered that her condition was generally stable. He ordered a further injection which was observed to have some effect as she was able to keep down fluids during the rest of the day. Oral doses of the anti-emetic drug were prescribed to continue over the weekend. The nursing notes indicate that on occasion during this period the nurses administered mild anti-nausea medication to assist Judith McGlinchey with her symptoms and were encouraging her to take fluids.

54.  While it appears therefore that Judith McGlinchey’s condition from 7 to 12 December 1998 was subject to regular monitoring, with the medical and nursing staff taking steps to respond to Judith McGlinchey’s withdrawal symptoms, the Court notes that during this period she was vomiting repeatedly, taking very little food and losing considerable weight in an undefined amount. Although injections had been given twice, these had had, at most, a short-term effect and by the evening of 11 December 1998 she was vomiting again. The evidence of any improvement in her condition by this point is, in the Court’s view, slim.

55.  In the two following days, the weekend, according to the staffing arrangements at the prison, Dr K. was not present. A locum doctor visited the prison on the Saturday morning, 12 December, but the records do not indicate that he saw Judith McGlinchey. If a doctor was required at any other time over the weekend, the nursing staff were expected to call out a doctor or arrange for transfer to hospital. It appears therefore that Judith McGlinchey was not examined by a doctor for two days. On 12 December 1998 her temperature, blood pressure and pulse were observed to be normal. She was however continuing to vomit and her weight was recorded as dropping to 40 kg, a further 3 kg decrease since 9 December and a possible 10 kg decrease since her admission five days earlier. Notwithstanding this further deterioration, the nursing staff did not find any cause for alarm or the need to obtain a doctor’s opinion on her condition.

56.  The Government have pointed to positive signs over this period – that she slept better during the night and on 13 December took a small meal. However, she vomited on both days and after the meal in question. Dr K. emphasised that, throughout, her vital signs were within the normal range, and that a person suffering serious dehydration would be expected to show lassitude and identifiable physical symptoms which were not present in Judith McGlinchey. However, at the inquest, Dr Tobin considered that, although it had not been established by specific analysis that Judith McGlinchey was dehydrated on entry to hospital due to an inability to insert a central line, there were strong indications to that effect. While the findings could be accounted for by significant blood loss, one episode of coffee-ground vomiting would not provide an adequate explanation.

57.  The evidence indicates to the Court that by the morning of 14 December 1998 Judith McGlinchey, a heroin addict whose nutritional state and general health were not good on admission to prison, had suffered serious weight loss and was dehydrated. This was the result of a week of largely uncontrolled vomiting symptoms and an inability to eat or hold down fluids. This situation, in addition to causing Judith McGlinchey distress and suffering, posed very serious risks to her health, as shown by her subsequent collapse. Having regard to the responsibility owed by prison authorities to provide the requisite medical care for detained persons, the Court finds that in the present case there was a failure to meet the standards imposed by Article 3 of the Convention. It notes in this context the failure of the prison authorities to provide accurate means of establishing Judith McGlinchey’s weight loss, which was a factor that should have alerted the prison to the seriousness of her condition, but was largely discounted due to the discrepancy of the scales. There was a gap in the monitoring of her condition by a doctor over the weekend when there was a further significant drop in weight and a failure of the prison to take more effective steps to treat Judith McGlinchey’s condition, such as her admission to hospital to ensure the intake of medication and fluids intravenously, or to obtain more expert assistance in controlling the vomiting.

58.  The Court concludes that the prison authorities’ treatment of Judith McGlinchey contravened the prohibition against inhuman or degrading treatment contained in Article 3 of the Convention.

II.  ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 13 OF THE CONVENTION

59.  Article 13 of the Convention provides:

“Everyone whose rights and freedoms as set forth in [the] Convention are violated shall have an effective remedy before a national authority notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity.”

A.  The parties’ submissions

60.  The applicants submitted that there was no adequate remedy for their complaints about the treatment of Judith McGlinchey in prison, or a remedy that would address the defects in management and policy which allowed the neglect and ill-treatment. Any cause of action in negligence was dependent on establishing the necessary causal link between the negligent acts and the death and/or personal injury, which was not present in this case. The treatment in issue was nonetheless inhuman and degrading treatment contrary to Article 3 of the Convention. No other remedies, which could provide compensation and an acknowledgement of the breach, existed.

61.  The Government stated that remedies were available as required by Article 13 of the Convention. Judith McGlinchey could have used the internal prison complaints system to complain about her treatment. Intolerable conditions of detention were also the proper basis for an application for judicial review. The applicants had available to them a range of causes of action, including negligence and misfeasance in public office. This was not a case where national law did not provide a viable cause of action at all. The fact that the applicants could not prove negligence on the facts did not mean that there was no remedy available.

B.  The Court’s assessment

62.  The Court reiterates that Article 13 of the Convention guarantees the availability at the national level of a remedy to enforce the substance of the Convention rights and freedoms in whatever form they might happen to be secured in the domestic legal order. The effect of Article 13 is thus to require the provision of a domestic remedy to deal with the substance of an “arguable complaint” under the Convention and to grant appropriate relief, although Contracting States are afforded some discretion as to the manner in which they conform to their Convention obligations under this provision. The scope of the obligation under Article 13 varies depending on the nature of the applicant’s complaint under the Convention. Nevertheless, the remedy required by Article 13 must be “effective” in practice as well as in law (see Aksoy v. Turkey, judgment of 18 December 1996, Reports 1996-VI, p. 2286, § 95; Aydın v. Turkey, judgment of 25 September 1997, Reports 1997-VI, pp. 1895-96, § 103; and Kaya v. Turkey, judgment of 19 February 1998, Reports 1998-I, pp. 329-30, § 106).

63.  In the case of a breach of Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention, which rank as the most fundamental provisions of the Convention, compensation for the non-pecuniary damage flowing from the breach should in principle be part of the range of available remedies (see Z and Others v. the United Kingdom [GC], no. 29392/95, § 109, ECHR 2001-V).

64.  On the basis of the evidence adduced in the present case, the Court has found that the respondent State is responsible under Article 3 of the Convention for inhuman and degrading treatment suffered by Judith McGlinchey prior to her collapse in custody. The applicants’ complaints in this regard are therefore “arguable” for the purposes of Article 13 in connection with Article 3 of the Convention (see Boyle and Rice v. the United Kingdom, judgment of 27 April 1988, Series A no. 131, p. 23, § 52; Kaya, cited above, pp. 330-31, § 107; and Yaşa v. Turkey, judgment of 2 September 1998, Reports 1998-VI, p. 2442, § 113).

65.  While the Government referred to internal prison remedies as being available to Judith McGlinchey to complain about any ill-treatment prior to her death, the Court observes that they would not provide any right to compensation for any suffering already experienced. The Court has already found, in its decision on admissibility, that no action in negligence could be pursued in the civil courts where the impugned conduct fell short of causing physical or psychological injury. It is not apparent that, in an action for judicial review, which Judith McGlinchey could have brought alleging that the prison had failed in its duty to take reasonable care of her in custody and which could have provided a means of examining the way in which the prison authorities carried out their responsibilities, damages could have been awarded on a different basis. Although the Government argued that this inability to pursue a claim for damages flowed from the facts of the situation and not from any omission in the law, it remains the case that no compensation is available under English law for the suffering and distress which has been found above to disclose a breach of Article 3 of the Convention.

66.  The question arises whether Article 13 in this context requires that compensation be made available. The Court itself will often award just satisfaction, recognising pain, stress, anxiety and frustration as rendering appropriate compensation for non-pecuniary damage. In the case of a breach of Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention, which rank as the most fundamental provisions of the Convention, compensation for the non-pecuniary damage flowing from the breach should in principle be available as part of the range of possible remedies.

67.  In this case therefore, the Court concludes that Judith McGlinchey, or the applicants acting on her behalf after her death, should have been able to apply for compensation for the non-pecuniary damage suffered by her. As there was no remedy which provided a mechanism to examine the standard of care given to Judith McGlinchey in prison and the possibility of obtaining damages, there has, accordingly, been a breach of Article 13 of the Convention.


III.  APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 41 OF THE CONVENTION

68.  Article 41 of the Convention provides:

“If the Court finds that there has been a violation of the Convention or the Protocols thereto, and if the internal law of the High Contracting Party concerned allows only partial reparation to be made, the Court shall, if necessary, afford just satisfaction to the injured party.”

A.  Damage

69.  The applicants claimed damages for the treatment of Judith McGlinchey for her estate and in respect of their own shock and distress at the suffering experienced by Judith McGlinchey. They submitted that she had been given insufficient and inadequate medical care and was thereby put through unnecessary suffering, including seven days of continued vomiting, an inability to eat or drink and acute fear and mental distress, including the belief that she was going to die. They also referred to their belief that she had been forced to clean up her own vomit and punished by the withdrawal of medication. They also referred to the distress and anguish which they suffered by the realisation of the conditions in which their daughter/mother spent her last conscious days and hours. They claimed a sum of 20,000 pounds sterling (GBP).

70.  The Government made no comment on these claims.

71.  The Court notes that it has made a finding of a violation of Article 3 in respect of shortcomings in the treatment which Judith McGlinchey received while in prison. It did not find it established however that Judith McGlinchey had been forced to clean up her vomit or that medication had been withheld by way of punishment. Noting that much of Judith McGlinchey’s suffering derived from the heroin withdrawal itself, but that the failure of the prison authorities to take more effective steps to combat her withdrawal symptoms and deteriorating condition must have contributed to her pain and distress, the Court decides, making an assessment on an equitable basis, to award a sum of 11,500 euros (EUR) in respect of Judith McGlinchey’s estate and EUR 3,800 each to the applicants, making a total of EUR 22,900.

B.  Costs and expenses

72.  The applicants claimed GBP 5,480.54 in respect of legal costs incurred in domestic procedures. This included the costs of being represented at the inquest and seeking advice about the cause of Judith McGlinchey’s death and the existence of any domestic remedies. They claimed GBP 844.43, inclusive of value-added tax, in respect of costs and expenses in bringing the case to the Court in Strasbourg. This made a total claim of GBP 6,324.97

73.  The Government made no comment on these claims.

74.  The Court observes that the costs incurred in obtaining legal advice and attending the inquest were connected at least in part in regard to issues as to the cause of Judith McGlinchey’s death and any possible responsibility of the authorities. The complaint under Article 2 of the Convention however was not pursued before the Court. Making an assessment on an equitable basis, the Court awards EUR 7,500 under this head.

C.  Default interest

75.  The Court considers it appropriate that the default interest should be based on the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank, to which should be added three percentage points.

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT

1.  Holds by six votes to one that there has been a violation of Article 3 of the Convention;

2.  Holds unanimously that there has been a violation of Article 13 of the Convention;

3.  Holds unanimously

(a)  that the respondent State is to pay the applicants, within three months from the date on which the judgment becomes final according to Article 44 § 2 of the Convention, plus any tax that may be chargeable, the following amounts, to be converted into pounds sterling at the rate applicable at the date of settlement:

(i)  EUR 22,900 (twenty-two thousand nine hundred euros) in respect of non-pecuniary damage;

(ii)  EUR 7,500 (seven thousand five hundred euros) in respect of costs and expenses;

(b)  that from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amounts at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points;

4.  Dismisses unanimously the remainder of the applicants’ claim for just satisfaction.

Done in English, and notified in writing on 29 April 2003, pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.

Lawrence Early                  Jean-Paul Costa
 Deputy Registrar              President

In accordance with Article 45 § 2 of the Convention and Rule 74 § 2 of the Rules of Court, the following separate opinions are annexed to this judgment:

(a)  concurring opinion of Mr Costa;

(b)  partly dissenting opinion of Sir Nicolas Bratza.

J.-P.C.
T.L.E.

 

CONCURRING OPINION OF JUDGE COSTA

(Translation)

In the end, having weighed up the pros and cons in this difficult case, I found a violation of Article 3 of the Convention. However, I would like to explain my views, as the judgment, with which I concur for the most part, does not fully represent them.

1.  I would observe in the first place, because I feel it is right to do so, that I did not discern in this case any intention on the part of the British judicial, prison or medical authorities to humiliate or maltreat Judith McGlinchey, who was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and accordingly incarcerated in New Hall Prison, Wakefield, on 7 December 1998. But I would add immediately that in the Court’s view “the absence of any such purpose cannot conclusively rule out a finding of a violation of Article 3” (see V. v. the United Kingdom, no. 24888/94, § 71, ECHR 1999IX, and Peers v. Greece, no. 28524/95, § 74, ECHR 2001-III). That case-law has to be taken into account.

2.  Nor do I think that it is desirable to lower the threshold of severity below which the Court will not hold that treatment is inhuman or degrading. Article 3 should not be cheapened or trivialised through overuse. However, I think that the present judgment does not lower that threshold. Moreover, I firmly believe that the facts of the case should not be assessed with “the wisdom of hindsight”, nor should one be influenced by the fact that Judith McGlinchey unfortunately died, on 3 January 1999, as a result of the cardiac arrest she suffered on 14 December 1998 and its after-effects. But, for the reasons I shall give, even if I confine my attention to the position at the time of her incarceration, disregarding its tragic outcome, I can reach the conclusion that the treatment suffered by Judith McGlinchey was objectively inhuman and/or degrading.

3.  What counts in my opinion is a nexus of facts. The victim was a heroin addict and suffered from asthma – she had been taken into hospital six times in the previous year on that account. In spite of her run-down state of health she was sentenced to prison, although there had been an alternative proposal for a probation order. As soon as she entered New Hall Prison she began to suffer frequent attacks of vomiting. Although she had stated that she wished to come off heroin and the prison doctor had immediately prescribed her medicine to ease the withdrawal symptoms, this drug was not given to her on her second day in prison (perhaps for good reasons, but the fact remains). She was also twice locked in her cell as a punishment for bad conduct. But above all, the vomiting did not cease, day or night, and it was accompanied by a steep and heavy loss of weight – 7 kg in forty-eight hours and 10 kg between the Monday of her arrival and the following Saturday. I can accept that the prison doctor’s absence during the weekend was not decisive, as there was a locum doctor in attendance, and she could have asked to see him. But I cannot understand why the prisoner was not taken into hospital during the first few days of her sentence, when she was vomiting continually, had lost 20% of her body weight in five days and was known to be simultaneously trying to come off drugs. It was only on Monday morning, that is one week after she began her sentence, that she was taken to hospital by ambulance, because she had collapsed and the appearance of her vomit revealed the presence of blood in her stomach. That factual nexus is the reason why I and the majority of my colleagues reached the finding of a violation.

4.  Moreover, that finding must be placed in a wider context, that of the special treatment to be given to prisoners whose state of health gives cause for concern. In cases like that of the victim, such concern might even entail a decision that their state of health is incompatible with committal to prison, or in any case with continued detention.

5.  The growing awareness of such a necessity, which in itself is a separate matter from the issue I mentioned above of the threshold of suffering to be taken into account, is reflected in numerous Council of Europe instruments. I could cite three recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to member States: the Recommendation of 12 February 1987 on the European Prison Rules (No. R (87) 3), the Recommendation of 8 April 1998 concerning the ethical and organisational aspects of health care in prison (No. R (98) 7) and the Recommendation of 29 September 2000 on improving the implementation of the European rules on community sanctions and measures (Rec(2000)22). I could also cite the third general activity report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 1992, which includes a chapter (no. 3) on health services in prisons.

6.  Our Court itself is becoming more and more sensitive to this concern. It has frequently stated in its judgments that assessment of the question whether treatment reaches the minimum level of severity for the purposes of applying Article 3 may depend on the sex, age and state of health of the victim (see, for example, Raninen v. Finland, judgment of 16 December 1997, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1997-VIII, pp. 2821-22, § 55). I might also mention, although the facts were different (the prisoner being seriously disabled), Price v. the United Kingdom (no. 33394/96, ECHR 2001-VII), with the separate opinion of Sir Nicolas Bratza, whom I joined, and the separate opinion of Judge Greve; the authors of those opinions considered that the very principle of committing the applicant to prison was incompatible with Article 3 on account of her condition. See also the recent Mouisel v. France (no. 67263/01, ECHR 2002-IX) in which the Court unanimously held that there had been a violation of Article 3 on account of the conditions of treatment and continued detention of a person suffering from an incurable illness.

 

7.  I naturally do not underestimate the difficulties the judicial authorities have to face when they are required to determine what kind of sentence to impose on an offender in bad health or those of the prison authorities and health services when they have to choose between treatment on the spot and admission to a hospital outside prison, especially as ill health among prisoners is unfortunately not an exceptional circumstance, particularly on account of the ravages of drugs among offenders. But if I return to the instant case, I think that all those authorities, for their part, underestimated the seriousness of Judith McGlinchey’s personal condition. The accumulation of errors was such, in my opinion, as to constitute in the final analysis a violation of Article 3 of the Convention. And I would have reached the same conclusion if the victim had in the end survived; the emotion aroused by her death must not be allowed to distort the assessment of her detention and conditions of treatment as such.

 

PARTLY DISSENTING OPINION OF JUDGE Sir Nicolas BRATZA

To my regret, I am unable to agree with the majority of the Chamber that there has been a violation of Article 3 of the Convention in the present case.

The general principles governing the application of Article 3 are well summarised in the judgment of the Chamber. The case-law of the Court sets a high threshold, requiring that ill-treatment must attain a minimum level of severity if it is to fall within the scope of the Article. In the specific context of conditions of detention, the Court has held, inter alia, that while Article 3 cannot be interpreted as laying down a general obligation to release a detainee on health grounds, the Article obliges States to ensure that a person is detained in conditions which are compatible with respect for human dignity and that, given the practical demands of imprisonment, the health and well-being of a prisoner are adequately secured by, among other things, providing him or her with the requisite medical assistance (see, for example, Kudła v. Poland [GC], no. 30210/96, §§ 93-94, ECHR 2000-XI).

The central question raised in the present case is whether the material before the Court establishes to the required standard of proof that the treatment, including the medical treatment, of Judith McGlinchey by the prison authorities was in all the circumstances so deficient as to give rise to a breach of Article 3.

In deciding this question, I note at the outset two points which appear to me to be of some importance.

In the first place, it is not alleged, and it has not been found by the majority of the Chamber, that Judith McGlinchey’s state of health at the time of her conviction was such that she should never have been committed to, or detained, in prison. In this regard, the situation is materially different from that examined by the Court in its judgment in Price v. the United Kingdom (no. 33394/96, ECHR 2001-VII) in which a violation of Article 3 was found in a case involving an applicant who was a four-limb deficient thalidomide victim with numerous health problems and who was committed to prison without any steps being taken to ascertain whether there existed facilities adequate to cope with her severe level of disability. In the present case, by contrast, it has not been argued or found that the facilities in prison were not capable of treating a prisoner who was withdrawing from heroin addiction, with the additional complication of being an asthma sufferer.

Secondly, I note that several of the specific complaints of inhuman and degrading treatment made by the applicants have been rejected by the Chamber or found not to have been established. In particular, the Chamber has found unsubstantiated the complaint that relief for Judith McGlinchey’s heroin withdrawal was denied by the prison authorities as a punishment, the medical notes confirming that the prescribed drug was not administered on only one occasion on 8 December 1998, and this on the instructions of the doctor due to a drop in her blood pressure. The Chamber has similarly found unsubstantiated the allegation that asthma medicine was not administered, the nursing notes indicating that inhalers were provided when Judith McGlinchey was seen to be wheezing. As to the fact that, out of a total of twenty doses of antibiotic medicine for Judith McGlinchey’s arm over a five-day period, four were either not administered or not entered in the drugs record, the Chamber, while observing that in either event a regrettable lack of procedure was indicated, has found that there is nothing to show that this failure had any adverse effect on Judith McGlinchey’s condition or caused her any discomfort.

It is the complaint that not enough was done, or done quickly enough, to treat Judith McGlinchey for her heroin withdrawal symptoms, or to react to the serious deterioration in her general condition during her period of detention in the prison, that has been found by the majority to give rise to a breach of Article 3 of the Convention.

It is common ground that Judith McGlinchey was screened by a nurse on entry to the prison on 7 December 1998 and that, on the following day, she was seen by the prison doctor, Dr K., who set up a course of treatment for her various health problems. As appears from paragraphs 53 and 54 of the judgment, Judith McGlinchey’s condition from 7 to 12 December was subject to regular monitoring by the medical and nursing staff of the prison, who took steps to respond to her withdrawal symptoms. There is, in my view, no indication in the material before the Court that she was neglected or abandoned to cope without assistance.

While it is true, as emphasised by the majority of the Chamber, that during that period Judith McGlinchey continued to vomit, took little food and had lost weight, the evidence of the medical and nursing staff at the inquest was that her condition remained stable and that, although she vomited again in the evening of 11 December, there were signs of improvement in her condition. Both Sister N. and Dr K. gave evidence that Judith McGlinchey did not give a clinical impression of being very ill during this period and both noted that she was active and associating with others. Dr K., in particular, stated in evidence that, given her blood pressure, temperature and pulse and her general presentation, he did not consider that there was any need to admit her to an outside hospital.

Of greater concern is the fact that in the two following days – the weekend of 12 and 13 December – Dr K. was not present in the prison and Judith McGlinchey was not apparently seen by any doctor, even though a locum doctor came to the prison on the Saturday morning. While, according to the evidence at the inquest, Judith McGlinchey’s temperature, blood pressure and pulse were observed by the prison medical staff to be normal on 12 December, it was also recorded that she was continuing to vomit and that there had been a sharp drop in her weight to 40 kg – representing a 3 kg decrease since 9 December and, in all probability, a still more substantial weight loss since her admission to prison.

However, I note that, despite the weight loss, the nursing staff found no cause for alarm and nothing which apparently required them to call out a doctor or arrange for her transfer to hospital in accordance with the practice established in the prison. It is recorded that, on 12 December, Judith McGlinchey had spent a better night. During 13 December, when she took a small dinner and did not vomit during the day, she was regarded by the nursing staff as improving, to the extent that it appears that it was not considered necessary to give her the prescribed anti-emetic medicine. Although she did vomit again twice that evening, no problems were observed during the night. Further, while the lack of any examination of Judith McGlinchey by a doctor, qualified, for example, to discern any problems of dehydration during a two-day period causes me some concern, I note that it was not established by the evidence at the inquest that Judith McGlinchey was in fact dehydrated when she arrived at hospital after her collapse on the morning of 14 December. Dr Tobin was unable to inject a central line due to her condition and, though there were in his view signs consistent with dehydration, he did not exclude that these could also have been the result of significant blood loss. More important still, to my mind, is the fact that none of the doctors who gave evidence at the inquest criticised Dr K. for failing to have Judith McGlinchey admitted earlier to hospital.

In these circumstances, I cannot find it established on the evidence before the Court that the medical treatment of Judith McGlinchey by the prison authorities was so deficient as to cause her distress or hardship or to amount to a violation of her rights under Article 3.

There were, as noted in the judgment, aspects of the arrangements in the prison or of the care given which could be criticised, as for example, the inaccuracy of the scales, the failure to provide or to record all the medication prescribed, and the lack of a doctor’s presence in the prison over most of the weekend. Moreover, had Judith McGlinchey been transferred to a hospital earlier, more expert care, and perhaps more palliative nursing, could have been made available. However, even judged with the wisdom of hindsight, I am unable to conclude that it has been shown that the prison authorities subjected Judith McGlinchey to inhuman or degrading treatment.

Accordingly, and not without some hesitation, I have voted against the finding of a violation of Article 3 of the Convention in the present case.

This conclusion does not however, mean that the applicants’ complaints fall outside the scope of protection of Article 13. The complaints were not declared inadmissible as manifestly ill-founded and necessitated an examination on the merits. I am satisfied that the various complaints of the applicants raised an arguable claim of a violation of the Convention for purposes of Article 13 and, for the reasons given in paragraphs 71 to 74 of the Chamber’s judgment, I consider that the applicants’ rights under that Article were violated.

Out of deference for the view of the majority of the Chamber that Judith McGlinchey’s rights under Article 3 were also violated, I have voted in favour of the full sums of compensation for non-pecuniary damage and of costs and expenses awarded in the judgment.

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Član 3 | DIC | Habimi i drugi protiv Srbije
Presuda je navedena u presudi Gž br. 4027/17 od 27.04.2018. godine Apelacionog suda u Beogradu, kojom se potvrđuje presuda Prvog osnovnog suda u Beogradu P br. 17805/11 od 05.04.2017. godine u stavu prvom izreke, u delu stava drugog izreke kojim je odbijen tužbeni zahtev u delu u kome je traženo da se obaveže tužena Republika Srbija da tužiocu AA na ime naknade nematerijalne štete isplati za pretrplјene duševne bolove zbog neosnovanog lišenja slobode još iznos od 400.000,00 dinara, za pretrplјeni strah usled torture još iznos od 150.000,00 dinara i za pretrplјene fizičke bolove usled torture još iznos od 150.000,00 dinara, u stavu trećem izreke i u stavu četvrtom izreke i žalbe tužioca AA i Republike Srbije u ovom delu odbijaju, kao neosnovane, dok se presuda preinačava u preostalom delu stava drugog izreke tako što se obavezuje tužena Republika Srbija da tužiocu AA na ime naknade nematerijalne štete za pretrplјene duševne bolove zbog neosnovanog lišenja slobode isplati još iznos od 350.000,00 dinara sa zakonskom zateznom kamatom počev od 05.04.2017. godine pa do isplate, i preinačava rešenje o troškovima sadržano u stavovima petom i šestom izreke presude tako što se obavezuje tužena Republika Srbija da tužiocu AA na ime troškova parničnog postupka isplati iznos od 301.350,00 dinara sa zakonskom zateznom kamatom.

U vreme lišenja slobode tužilac je bio policijski pripravnik već šest meseci i raspoređen na rad u Policijskoj stanici Palilula. Odmah po lišenju slobode odveden je u Policijsku stanicu u Ulici 29. novembra gde je bio "obrađivan" tri dana i iznudili priznanje dela primenom sile i fizičkim maltretiranjem. Prva tri dana koja je proveo u policijskoj stanici kod tužioca su dovele do snažne psihotraume i fizičke traume usled čega je razvijen strah najjačeg intenziteta u trajanju od tri dana sa kliničkom slikom akutne reakcije na stres. Tokom boravka u pritvoru narednih 6 meseci doživlјava strah srednjeg do jakog intenziteta usled socijalne izolacije, patnje, duševnog bola zbog sumnje da je počinio navedeno krivično delo, nemogućnosti komunikacije sa bliskim osobama, strah od neizvesnosti sudskog postupka u vidu posttraumatskog stresnog sindroma. U periodu izlaska iz pritvora tužilac doživlјava strah srednjeg intenziteta, a potom slabog intenziteta uz duševnu patnju zbog povrede ugleda i časti doživlјaj stida i osramoćenosti u jakom stečenu u trajanju od dve godine.

Pravilno je prvostepeni sud utvrdio i da je nad tužiocem vršena tortura jer je podvrgnut fizičkom mučenju, ponižavajućem postupanju i kažnjavanju od strane policije, ali i prilikom boravka u pritvoru čime su povređena njegova prava zaštićena članom 3 Evropske konvencije o lјudskim pravima i osnovnim slobodama.

Neosnovani su žalbeni navodi tužioca da je visina dosuđene naknade za pretrplјeni strah i bol zbog torture prenisko određena sa pozivanjem na visinu štete dosuđene pred Evropskim sudom za lјudska prava obzirom da je iznos naknade štete za pretrplјeni strah i bol zbog torture prema tužiocu u zbiru približno iste visine kao onaj koji je dosuđen svakom od oštećenih, kao podnosilaca predstavke u odluci Evropskog suda za lјudska prava Habimi protiv Srbije.

Presuda je dostupna u javnoj bazi sudske prakse ovde
Član 3 | DIC | Đorđević protiv Hrvatske
Presuda je povezana sa presudom Kzz 1268/2019 od 11.12.2019. Vrhovnog kasacionog suda, kojom se odbija kao neosnovan zahtev za zaštitu zakonitosti branioca maloletnih AA i BB, podnet protiv pravnosnažnih rešenja Višeg suda u Zaječaru Km.6/19 od 18.04.2019.godine i Apelacionog suda u Nišu Kžm1 43/19 od 02.08.2019.godine, u odnosu na povredu krivičnog zakona iz člana 439. tačka 2) Zakonika o krivičnom postupku u vezi člana 61. Krivičnog zakonika, dok se u ostalom delu zahtev za zaštitu zakonitosti branioca maloletnih odbacuje kao nedozvolјen.

Rešenjem Višeg suda u Zaječaru Km.6/19 od 18.04.2019.godine, između ostalih, maloletnima AA i BB su zbog izvršenja produženog krivičnog dela silovanje iz člana 178. stav 3. u vezi stava 2. i 1. u vezi člana 61. KZ izrečene vaspitne mere pojačan nadzor od strane roditelјa koje mogu trajati najmanje 6 (šest) meseci, a najviše 2 (dve) godine, a u koje mere se maloletnima uračunava vreme provedeno u pritvoru od 10.12.2018.godine do 18.12.2018.godine, s tim što će sud naknadno odlučiti o njihovom prestanku.

Rešenjem Apelacionog suda u Nišu Kžm1 43/19 od 02.08.2019.godine odbijena je kao neosnovana žalba zajedničkog branioca maloletnih AA i BB i potvrđeno je rešenje Višeg suda u Zaječaru Km.6/19 od 18.04.2019.godine.

Presuda je dostupna u javnoj bazi sudske prakse ovde
Član 41 | DIC | Pogosjan i Bagdasarjan protiv Jermenije
Presuda je povezana sa rešenjem Rev 3033/2019 od 05.09.2019. Vrhovnog kasacionog suda, kojim se odbacuje kao nedozvolјena revizija tužene izjavlјena protiv presude Višeg suda u Vranju Gž 3017/18 od 08.02.2019. godine.

Presudom Osnovnog suda u Vranju Prr1. 65/17 od 18.04.2018. godine, stavom prvim izreke, tužena je obavezana da tužiocu naknadi štetu koja je izazvana povredom prava na suđenje u razumnom roku u predmetu Osnovnog suda u Vranju I 1022/09 u iznosu od 69.702,00 dinara, na ime troškova parničnog postupka u iznosu od 27.376,00 dinara i na ime troškova izvršnog postupka u iznosu od 19.600,00 dinara, pripadajućom kamatom. Stavom drugim izreke tužena je obavezana da tužiocu naknadi troškove parničnog postupka u iznosu od 30.000,00 dinara sa zakonskom zateznom kamatom od izvršnosti presude do isplate.
Presudom Višeg suda u Vranju Gž 3017/18 od 08.02.2019. godine, stavom prvim izreke potvrđena je prvostepena presuda u delu u kom je odlučeno o glavnoj stvari, dok je preinačena odluka o troškovima parničnog postupka.

Rešenje je dostupno u javnoj bazi sudske prakse ovde
Član 41 | DIC | Pogosjan i Bagdasarjan protiv Jermenije
Presuda je povezana sa rešenjem Rev 627/2020 od 07.02.2020. Vrhovnog kasacionog suda, kojim se odbacuje kao nedozvolјena revizija predlagača izjavlјena protiv rešenja Višeg suda u Leskovcu Ržg 216/19 od 22.11.2019. godine.

Rešenjem Višeg suda u Leskovcu Ržg 216/19 od 22.11.2019. godine, odbijena je žalba punomoćnika predlagača izjavlјena protiv rešenja Osnovnog suda u Leskovcu R4 I 109/19 od 09.09.2019. godine, kojim je odbijen prigovor predlagača za ubrzanje postupka, zbog povrede prava na suđenje u razumnom roku u predmetu tog suda I 7838/10, kao neosnovan.
Protiv navedenog rešenja, predlagač je blagovremeno izjavila reviziju zbog bitne povrede odredaba parničnog postupka, pogrešnog i nepotpuno utvrđenog činjeničnog stanja i pogrešne primene materijalnog prava, s tim što je predložila da se revizija smatra izuzetno dozvolјenom, u skladu sa odredbom član 404. ZPP.

Rešenje je dostupno u javnoj bazi sudske prakse ovde
Član 41 | DIC | Stojanović protiv Hrvatske
Presuda je povezana sa rešenjem Rev 3050/2019 od 18.09.2019. godine godine, Vrhovnog kasacionog suda, kojim se odbacuje revizija tužene izjavlјena protiv presude Višeg suda u Vranju Gž 1751/18 od 13.11.2018. godine i odbija kao neosnovan zahtev tužioca za naknadu troškova odgovora na reviziju.

Presudom Osnovnog suda u Vranju Prr1 22/17 od 09.02.2018. godine, obavezana je tužena da tužiocu plati na ime naknade imovinske štete izazvane povredom prava na suđenje u razumnom roku u predmetu Opštinskog suda u Vranju
I br. 1012/09 (ranije I. br. 850/05) iznose sa zateznom kamatom od dospeća pa do isplate bliže navedene u izreci pod 1. Tužana je obavezana da tužiocu na ime troškova parničnog postupka plati iznos od 24.000,00 dinara.
Viši sud u Vranju je presudom Gž 1751/18 od 13.11.2018. godine odbio kao neosnovanu žalbu tužene i potvrdio presudu Osnovnog suda u Vranju Prr1 22/17 od 09.02.2018. godine. Odbijen je zahtev tužene za naknadu troškova drugostepenog postupka.

Rešenje je dostupno u javnoj bazi sudske prakse ovde