Straf- en geneeskundigregtelike ondersoek na die statutêre oortredings verbandhoudend met sekere reproduktiewe mediese prosedures

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Date
2013-06
Authors
Daffue, Belinda A.
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The different statutory offences applicable to surrogacy and the termination of pregnancies are identified in order to contribute to the efficient lecturing of medical law as independant field of study to law and medical students. In the light of the challenges facing the criminal justice system and the health care system in South Africa, inter alia due to a lack of means, the question is posed whether the criminilization of acts applicable to reproductive medical procedures should or could be meaningfully dealt with within the present criminal justice system. The composition of the health care system in South Africa and the medical ethical obligations as contained in the National Health Act 61 of 2003 are explained with the Constitution of South Africa in mind. Together herewith the role of the Health Professions Council of South Africa in its dealing of contraventions by its members is enunciated. The medical ethical principles are discussed with reference to the well-known four pillars of medical ethics in order to ascertain their applicability in evaluating the lawfulness of the conduct of the health care worker. The practical application of the ethical rules in the execution of surrogate agreements and termination of pregnancies are discussed with reference to the legal position in countries inter alia such as the United States of America and England. The applicable legislation is evaluated against the backdrop of the principle of legality. In view of the failure of the legislature to apply the principle of legality in several sections of the Children‟s Act 38 of 2005, the National Health Act 61 of 2003 and the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act 92 of 1996, the purpose of the legislature is discussed and recommendations are made for the amendment thereof.
Afrikaans: Ten einde by te dra tot die doeltreffende aanbied van geneeskundige reg as selfstandige vakgebied aan mediese en regstudente, word die verskillende statutêre oortredings wat gepleeg kan word in die uitvoer van surrogaatooreenkomste en die terminasie van swangerskappe uitgelig. Aangesien die strafregstelsel en die gesondheidsorgsisteem in Suid-Afrika voor groot uitdagings staan weens onder andere ʼn tekort aan middele, word die vraag gevra of die kriminalisering van handelinge verbandhoudend aan gemelde reproduktiewe mediese prosedures hoegenaamd in die huidige strafregstelsel sinvol hanteer kan of behoort te word. Die samestelling van die gesondheidsorgsisteem in Suid-Afrika en die etiese verpligtinge soos vervat in die National Health Act 61 van 2003 word uiteengesit teen die agtergrond van die Grondwet van Suid-Afrika. In samehang hiermee word die rol van die Gesondheidsberoeperaad van Suid-Afrika in die hantering van oortredings deur sy lede uitgelig. Die medies-etiese beginsels aan die hand van die alombekende vier pilare van die mediese etiek word behandel in die lig van die rol wat dit mag speel in die beoordeling van die vraag na die regmatigheid van die gesondheidsorgwerker se optrede by vermeende oortredings. Hierbenewens word die praktiese toepassing van die etiese reëls by die uitvoer van surrogaatooreenkomste en die terminasie van swangerskappe behandel met verwysing na die regsposisie in sommige ander lande soos die Verenigde State van Amerika, Engeland, ensovoorts. Toepaslike wetgewing word teen die agtergrond van die legaliteitsbeginsel geëvalueer. Die doel van die wetgewer, in die lig van die versuim van die wetgewer om die legaliteitsvereiste in talle artikels van die Children‟s Act 38 van 2005, die National Health Act 61 van 2003 en die Wet op Keuse oor die Beëindiging van Swangerskappe 92 van 1996 toe te pas, word bespreek en aanbevelings word gemaak vir die aanpassing van bestaande wetgewing.
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Keywords
Statutory offences, Principle of legality, Termination of pregnancy, Surrogacy, Reproductive health care procedures, Medical ethics, Criminal justice system, Health care system, Surrogate mothers -- Legal status, laws, etc., Medical laws and legislation, Dissertation (LL.M. (Criminal and Medical Law))--University of the Free State, 2013
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