EUTHANASIA: BETWEEN THE RIGHT AND THE OFFENSE

Borys LOHVYNENKO

LOHVYNENKO B. (2022), Euthanasia: between the right and the offense, Scientific Bulletin of Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs, Special Issue № 1, 86-91

DOI: 10.31733/2078-3566-2022-5-86-91

 

ABSTRACT. The problem of legalization or continuation of the ban on euthanasia at the national level continues to cause wide public resonance. This problem is complex in nature, because it concerns not only medical issues, but also legal and bioethical issues. Euthanasia significantly increases the risks of abuse of this right for patients who wish to implement an appropriate dignified and meaningful end-of-life procedure to end suffering.

The purpose of the article is to reveal the dualistic essence of euthanasia – as a person’s right to a dignified death, and as a criminal offense. The article focuses on modern scientific views on euthanasia, covering three aspects: 1) negative – support for the current ban on euthanasia; 2) positive – the need to create legal instruments to implement the right to voluntarily end one’s life; 3) alternative – supporters of which consider the possibility of replacing euthanasia with other procedures that are more humane from the point of view of bioethics (palliative care, voluntary refusal of treatment, etc.).

Attention was drawn to the fact that the right to freely dispose of one’s own life is enshrined in national legislation. Yes, the patient’s refusal of medical intervention or treatment may result in the approaching moment of death. The spread of the international practice of further liberalization and expansion of the circle of states that support euthanasia procedures are emphasized.

Attention is focused on the fact that the variety of procedures and forms of euthanasia does not allow to clearly determine which of them is the most acceptable from a legal point of view. At the same time, all such procedures and forms provide for one thing – the right of a terminally ill or chronically ill person to independently determine how and when to die. It was concluded that euthanasia is a person’s own choice and this is the most important thing in his awareness as a component of the right to life. The position regarding the possibility of its legalization in Ukraine in the future is supported.

Keywords: euthanasia, intentional killing, right to life, right to a dignified death, choice.

References

  1. Toftul M. Gh. Suchasnyj slovnyk z etyky [Modern dictionary of ethics]. Zhytomyr: Vyd-vo ZhDU im. I. Franka. 2014. 416 p. [in Ukr.].
  2. Konstytucija Ukrajiny [Constitution of Ukraine]: Zakon Ukrajiny vid 28.06.1996 № 254k/96-VR URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/254к/96-вр#Text. [in Ukr.].
  3. Cyviljnyj kodeks Ukrajiny [Civil Code of Ukraine]: Zakon Ukrajiny vid 15.01.2003 № 435-ІV. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/435-15#Text. [in Ukr.]
  4. Naukovo-praktychnyj komentar do Zakonu Ukrajiny “Osnovy zakonodavstva Ukrajiny pro okhoronu zdorov’ja” [Scientific and practical commentary on the law of Ukraine: Fundamentals of the Legislation of Ukraine on Healthcare] / Borys Loghvynenko. Kyiv : Dakor. 2021. 272 p. [in Ukr.].
  5. Ghajdachuk I. V. Pravo ljudyny na evtanaziju: mizhnarodno-pravove zakriplennja ta praktyka [Human right to euthanasia: international legal consolidation and practice]. Mizhnarodni chytannja z mizhnarodnogho prava pam’jati profesora P.Je. Kazansjkogho: materialy chetvertoji mizhnar. nauk. konf. (Odesa, 8-9. November 2013) / vidp. za vypusk k.ju.n., doc. M.I. Pashkovsjkyj; Nacionaljnyj universytet «Odesjka jurydychna akademija». Odesa: Feniks, 2013. P. 225-228 [in Ukr.].
  6. Zaharov V., Shapovalova I. Sociological and legal aspects of euthanasia. Philosophy, Economics and Law Review. 2021. 1(1). Р. 182-189 [in Eng.].
  7. U Ghollandiji piddaly evtanaziji fizychno zdorovu divchynu z psykhichnymy vidkhylennjamy [In Holland, a physically healthy girl with mental disorders was subjected to euthanasia]. UNIAN. 2018. URL: https://religions.unian.ua/religionsworld/2379340-u-gollandiji-piddali-evtanaziji-fizichno-zdorovudivchinu-z-psihichnimi-vidhilennyami.html. [in Ukr.]
  8. Zaporozhchenko A. O. “Evtanazija” ta “pravo pomerty leghko ta ghidno”: kvintesencija terminiv ta jikh spivvidnoshennja [“Right to Die with Dignit”», “Euthanasia”: Notions and Their Correlation]. Prykarpatsjkyj jurydychnyj visnyk. 2014. 3(6). P. 26-36. [in Ukr.].
  9. Dzjubenko O. L. Aktualjni aspekty leghalizaciji evtanaziji v Ukrajini [Actual aspects of euthanasia legalization in Ukraine]. Jurydychnyj naukovyj elektronnyj zhurnal. 2019. No.1. P. 64-67. URL: http://www.lsej.org.ua/1_2019/17.pdf. [in Ukr.]
  10. Ghromovchuk M. Evtanazija v Ukrajini: pytannja realizaciji konstytucijnogho prava ljudyny [Euthanasia in Ukraine: issues of implementation of constitutional human right]. Ukrajinsjkyj chasopys konstytucijnogho prava. 2021. No. 2. P. 28-33. [in Ukr.].
  11. Pro zastosuvannja transplantaciji anatomichnykh materialiv ljudyni [On the application of transplantation of anatomical materials to humans]: Zakon Ukrajiny vid 17.05.2018 № 2427-VIII. URL : https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2427-19#Text. [in Ukr.].
  12. Shherbak S. V. Evtanazija v kryminaljno-pravovij nauci. S. V. Shherbak, M. Ju. Kozodav [Euthanasia in criminal science]. Pryvatne ta publichne pravo. 2021. No. 4. P. 140-145. [in Ukr.].
  13. Romanov S. Ju. Evtanazija: etychnyj ta kryminaljno- pravovyj aspekt / S. Ju. Romanov, Ja. O. Trynjova [Euthanasia: ethical and criminal law aspect]. Visnyk Kharkivsjkogho nacionaljnogho universytetu vnutrishnikh sprav. 2002. Vol. 19. P. 101-106. [in Ukr.].
  14. Ishhenko O. M. Evtanazija za kryminaljnym zakonodavstvom Ukrajiny [Euthanasia under the criminal law Ukraine] / O. M. Ishhenko, A. K. Mazjar. Molodyj vchenyj. 2017. No. 5.1 (45.1). P. 39-41. [in Ukr.].
  15. Korchaka Ye.O. Prava ljudyny chetvertogho pokolinnja [Human rights of the fourth generation]. Porivnjaljno-analitychne pravo. 2017. No. 4. P. 341-342. [in Ukr.].
Views: 13,014