Ar galima baudžiamoji atsakomybė už akušerinį smurtą?
Valutkevičiūtė, Aušra |
Akušerinis smurtas – tai sunkiai apibrėžiama sąvoka, nes jį sudaro veiksmai, kurie gali būti būtini, tačiau kartu gali būti ir smurtiniai ar nepagarbūs, jeigu jie nebuvo būtini ir atlikti be moters sutikimo. Akušerinis smurtas nėra nustatytas kaip neteisėta veika Lietuvoje, kuri gali pakenkti tiek moteriai tiek vaisiui, todėl buvo būtina išanalizuoti šiuos aspektus: kas yra akušerinis smurtas ir kokie jo elementai? Ar Lietuvos Respublikos teisinis reglamentavimas yra pakankamas, kad moterys būtų apsaugotos nuo akušerinio smurto? Ar tikslinga įvesti specialų straipsnį LR BK, kuris numatytų atsakomybę už akušerinį smurtą? Tyrimo objektas yra akušerinio smurto reguliavimas baudžiamojoje teisėje. Šio darbo tikslas yra sistemiškai išanalizavus akušerinio smurto sampratą Lietuvoje bei užsienio valstybėse ir akušerinio smurto kriminalizavimo tikslingumą, nustatyti, ar tikslinga įtraukti šią veiką į LR BK. Siekiant šio tikslo buvo naudoti aprašomasis, dokumentų analizės, lingvistinis, lyginamasis, apibendrinimo ir sisteminis metodai. Pagal LR BK sveikatos priežiūros specialistai galėtų būti patraukti baudžiamojon atsakomybėn pagal 132, 137, 139 bei 229 straipsnius. Atliktas tyrimas parodė, kad akušerinio smurto veiksmai, ypač tie, kurie gali pakenkti moters ar kūdikio sveikatai gali pažeisti prieš tai paminėtas normas. Tačiau nagrinėti straipsniai neapima informuoto paciento sutikimo nepaisymo bei atvejų, kai yra atliekami nebūtini veiksmai prieš pacientus.
This master's thesis is about whether obstetric violence should be a criminal offence. To clarify this, it is necessary to review the work of scholars on the subject to arrive at one concrete definition of obstetric violence. This is followed by an overview of current international law, which singles out obstetric violence as a form of gender-based violence that should be criminalized as a form of responsibility. It will also look at the current criminalization of obstetric violence in foreign countries. Subsequently, it will be examined whether the current provisions of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania could be effectively applied to cases of obstetric violence. Obstetric violence is a complex and difficult-to-define concept, as it encompasses actions that may be medically necessary but, when performed without necessity and without the woman's consent, may constitute violence or disrespect. Obstetric violence is not recognized as an unlawful act under Lithuanian law, despite its potential to cause harm to both the woman and the fetus. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the following aspects: What constitutes obstetric violence, and what are its defining elements? Is the legal framework of the Republic of Lithuania sufficient to ensure protection of women from obstetric violence? Would it be appropriate to introduce a specific article in the Lithuanian Criminal Code (LR BK) to establish criminal liability for obstetric violence? The research focus of this study is the regulation of obstetric violence within the realm of criminal law. The aim of this work is to determine, through a systematic analysis of the concept of obstetric violence as understood in Lithuania and foreign jurisdictions, and of the justification for its criminalization, whether it would be appropriate to include such conduct under the scope of the Lithuanian Criminal Code. To achieve this objective, the research employed descriptive, document analysis, linguistic, comparative, generalization, and systematic methods. It was established that obstetric violence qualifies both as gender-based violence and as violence against a patient. We can see that one researchers emphasizes that such violence against women should be criminalized, and this should prevent the discrimination against women in the healthcare. Otherwise, we have arguments against criminalization because it’s difficult to define obstetric violence and there is a risk to over-criminalizing medical practice. This was followed by an overview of the current regulation of the Lithuania Penal Code, with an overview of Articles 132, 137, 139, 229. The study shows that the articles of the Criminal Code in question contain features that can be applied in cases of obstetric violence. Other acts of obstetric violence, i.e. psychological violence (insulting, shouting reproaches, ignoring), as well as manipulation of information and pressure to consent to unwanted procedures, would be more difficult to criminalize, as they are rarely acts, Without a separate article that could regulate the liability for non-compliance with informed consent, or for attempting to obtain it by coercion or pressure, it would be difficult to prosecute a healthcare professional.