의사조력자살 비범죄화에 관한 소고

초록

This study focuses on the decriminalization of physician-assisted suicide. The interpretation of human death transcends the mere end of life, encompassing complex dimensions of social, moral, and religious aspects. Historically, euthanasia and suicide have been subject to diverse interpretations across different eras and cultures. In the past, the right to dispose of life was believed to belong to the divine, rendering euthanasia a moral and religious taboo. However, as modernization progressed, the expansion of human rights and advancements in medical technology raised new questions. The discussion on 'dying well' has become as significant as living well, offering physician-assisted suicide as an option for terminal patients or those suffering from severe pain to maintain their dignity as humans. Despite the institutional procedures established in various countries to address this issue, there is a lack of in-depth discussion in South Korea. This research examines the criminal law discourse on physician-assisted suicide through the justification for physician-assisted suicide, international legislative examples, and the current status and suggestions in South Korea. It aims to explore how to justify physician-assisted suicide through a procedural approach.

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