Topical Issues of Criminal Liability of Medical or Pharmaceutical Workers under the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Article 140 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)

Abstract

The issues of Improper protection of rights and legal interests of the patients due to improper performance of professional duties by a medical or pharmaceutical worker are considered. In particular, problems arising during the application of the norm of criminal liability for specified socially dangerous acts are considered. At the same time, cases of serious consequences to the patient's life and health due to a medical error or actions of medical or pharmaceutical workers committed in the absence of fault are considered although they result in the death of the patient or other grave consequences. Particular attention is paid to iatrogenic mental illness, caused by improper professional activity of the medical workers and peculiarities of the psyche of the patients. Particular attention is paid to the study of the practice of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the legal guarantee of the right to life in Ukraine in the context of criminal proceedings. Ukraine is a party to virtually all international human rights treaties. It imposes on it the obligation to adhere to European norms in the field of human protection. The need for comparative study of laws and effectiveness of their application at the present stage of society's development is due to the process of globalization affecting today not only economic and political processes but also the process of lawmaking. This requires the lawyers of different countries to join in the development of the theoretical foundations of lawmaking to formulate in the aggregate knowledge about the effect of laws based on world legal traditions and experience of the separate states. The complex structure of the health care organizations has led to the need for new models of healthcare professionals to ensure the quality of care and patient safety. In the current situation, patient safety is one of the new challenges faced by the medical students in undergraduate and postgraduate education. This involves incorporating a patient safety culture into curricula, in particular for the doctors and other health care professionals. The scientific article is aimed at solving the issues of criminal law protection as the rights of people in need of the medical services as well as medical and pharmaceutical workers who provide these services.