Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation
About us Faculty of Law Research Centres of Expertise Groningen Centre for Health Law
Header image Groningen Centre for Health Law

Law as a shaping factor of health – the power of public health law

Date:16 April 2024
Health is increasingly in the spotlight since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and it made the importance of law increasingly visible. Legal questions that were commonly posed during the pandemic were, for instance, related to the competences of States to restrict freedoms of individuals, and a continuing discussion relates to a new pandemic accord for which negotiations will be resumed later this month.

Approval of Glyphosate Usage Permit in the EU

Date:08 April 2024
Following the court decision regarding Roundup in the United States of America (US), the permissions for the use of agricultural pesticides and their impact on human health should be re-evaluated. How should this recent decision affect the EU’s practices?

Aletta Dive 'sex matters' - and  the right of women to equal access to health

Date:26 February 2024
During our last Aletta Dive we explored the underrepresentation of women in medical research and the resulting lack of understanding of the female body. This post explains why and how this is a matter of women’s rights, and what are the resulting obligations of the Dutch government to mend this gap.

A Public Health Official in the U.S. State of Florida has called for a stop in the use of MRNA vaccines for Covid-19

Date:22 January 2024
In the US, many public health functions are decentralized to the governments of the 50 states, and the authority (or “competence”) of the federal government is limited by the US Constitution. The interaction between the US federal and state governments is an ever-present source of political and legal conflict, especially on issues such as reproductive health, immigration, the environment, and government regulation.

From advocacy to action: climate change litigation. A guide for public health professionals

Date:29 November 2023
The public health professional mandate requires not only the development of robust science and evidence, but also robust meaningful action. The Guide makes a timely and important contribution to building the competence and capacity of public health professionals around climate change litigation, supporting strategic partnerships, and encouraging leadership to protect and promote the health of people and planet.

WHO, the right to health and the climate crisis – what advice for the ICJ?

Date:23 November 2023
The deadline for ICJ submissions is 22 January 2024. States and organizations which have made submissions may then make written comments on other statements submitted to the ICJ.

The climate crisis: Future-proofing human rights research, teaching and practice Proposal for a working group on climate change and human rights for the Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research (NNHRR)

Date:23 November 2023
A key recommendation from the workshop was the proposal for a NNHRR working group on climate change and human rights. The proposed working group will bring together academics studying the multifaceted ways in which climate change affects human rights. This includes collaboration with the existing NNHRR working groups on human rights in the digital age (emphasising the importance of civil and political rights in the digital space), migration, and business.

European Commission’s Mental Health Communication Part II: The right to mental health

Date:10 October 2023
This is part II of a series of blog posts on the European Commission's Communication on a Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health. Part I [NA1] discusses the content of the Communication and where mental health fits within EU law. Part II reflects on the Communication from a right to mental health-perspective. The series is published in light of World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2023.

European Commission’s Mental Health Communication Part I: Mental health under EU law

Date:10 October 2023
This is part I of a series of blog posts on the European Commission's Communication on a Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health. Part I discusses the content of the Communication and where mental health fits within EU law. Part II [NA1] reflects on the Communication from a right to mental health-perspective. The series is published in light of World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2023.

ChatGPT and health information: A warning for lawmakers?  

Date:18 June 2023
Michael Woldeyes - What happens when individuals use applications such as ChatGPT to self-diagnose? Should lawmakers regulate the use of AI programs to make sure that the “right” health information is delivered to individuals? This article tries to answer the last question by examining the shortcomings of ChatGPT.