Euthanasia in Russia: the Criminal Law Aspect

Abstract

The article provides a criminal and legal description of euthanasia as a type of murder in the Russian Federation. The study examines how the current criminal legislation regulates responsibility for taking the life of a terminally ill person at his request, as well as how such actions are qualified in the absence of a special corpus delicti. It is emphasized that both active and passive euthanasia are prohibited by law, and actions aimed at accelerating the death of a patient are primarily qualified as premeditated murder, regardless of the motive. Using concrete examples, the authors demonstrate the different positions of the courts in qualifying euthanasia and sentencing, which does not contribute to the implementation of the principles of legality and justice. In addition, the article distinguishes between euthanasia and other related crimes. In conclusion, the authors emphasize that the absence of a special criminal law norm leads to an ambiguous qualification of such acts and forms the basis for a discussion about the expediency of legalizing passive euthanasia in Russia.