Legal protection of human life in the light of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.
Would introducing the admissibility of euthanasia in Poland be consistent with the Constitution? Cover Image

Prawna ochrona życia w Konstytucji RP. Czy wprowadzenie dopuszczalności eutanazji w Polsce byłoby zgodne z Konstytucją?
Legal protection of human life in the light of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. Would introducing the admissibility of euthanasia in Poland be consistent with the Constitution?

Author(s): Teresa Gardocka, Paweł Kowalski
Subject(s): Constitutional Law, Civil Law
Published by: Naczelna Izba Lekarska
Keywords: Konstytucja; eutanazja; ochrona życia; samobójstwo; Constitution; euthanasia; protection of life; suicide

Summary/Abstract: The study is dedicated to the analysis of Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Polandwith regard to the legal admissibility of the right to euthanasia as a medical procedure regulatedby law. Such an act, should it be implemented, would effectively result in decriminalisation ofan intentional termination of patient’s life by a physician at the request of a patient. Such lawsare in effect in EU countries – Belgium and the Netherlands. The establishment of euthanasia asa legal procedure is possible in the light of provisions made both in the Convention for the Protectionof Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as in the Charter of FundamentalRights of the European Union. Analysis and comparison of the Constitutions of Belgium and ofthe Netherlands, both of which introduced legal euthanasia procedures, with the Article 38 ofthe Constitution of the Republic of Poland indicates that analogical euthanasia laws are allowedunder the Polish Constitution. While Article 38 ensures legal protection of human life, it doesnot enforce the continuation of a life of a person who decides to end it.

  • Issue Year: 10/2018
  • Issue No: 10
  • Page Range: 9-16
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: Polish