Aspects of Euthanasia in Criminal Law

Abstract

The question of euthanasia and its impunity raises many legal and moral issues which are not answered. The intention of this paper is not to express an opinion about suitability or morality of euthanasia or assisted suicide and it also does not contain criticism of legislations of states which enacted impunity of euthanasia or assisted suicide. The paper provides a legal overview of the issue of euthanasia. Presented findings give us a view on foreign legislations that established the impunity of euthanasia or assisted suicide and explain how the Slovak legislation qualifies such proceedings.

Keywords

• criminal law
• euthanasia
• assisted suicide
• assassination
• failure to provide assistance
• the slovak republic