Hungary is facing an increasingly acute eldercare challenge driven by rapid demographic aging, persistent socioeconomic vulnerability, and shifting legal responsibilities. This article examines the contemporary 'duty to care' through a socio-legal lens, focusing on the interaction between law, social policy, solidarity, and work–life balance. Using qualitative and normative legal analysis combined with interpretative policy review, the study analyses Hungarian constitutional and statutory frameworks alongside demographic data and social service trends. The findings reveal a structural contradiction: while care needs are expanding, public support mechanisms – pensions, care allowances, and community-based services –remain inadequate in real terms, and responsibility is increasingly shifted onto families. These rebalancing places disproportionate pressure on informal caregivers and intensifies conflicts between employment and caregiving obligations. The article argues that without a strengthened, operationalized concept of solidarity – embedded in legal guarantees, integrated care services, and supportive employment policies – the current framework risks deepening social exclusion, gender inequality, and intergenerational injustice in an aging Hungarian society.
The study examines approaches to safeguarding human rights in the context of international organ transplantation. A political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (PESTEL) analysis was conducted to identify external factors influencing organ donation practices. The comparative analysis focuses on three countries-Uzbekistan, Lithuania, and Ukraine-whose legislation was compared in terms of these factors: objects of transplantation, donors and conditions for removal, donor and recipient consent, liability of parties, age restrictions for donors, international cooperation, ethical standards and human rights, donor registries, control and monitoring, and special conditions for vulnerable groups. The analysis identified three key areas for improvement in protecting human rights: the consent system, oversight mechanisms, and international cooperation. The study provides recommendations aimed at strengthening international cooperation in ethical and legal organ donation practices.
This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the protection of medical personnel in armed conflicts, viewed through the lenses of international humanitarian law and labor law. The first section explores the legal frameworks established by international humanitarian law (IHL), focusing on the rights and protections afforded to medical personnel working in conflict zones, and the role of treaties such as the Geneva Conventions in safeguarding their neutrality and safety. The second section explores the labor law perspective, focusing on the intersection between international humanitarian law and labor law in addressing the crucial issues surrounding the labor-law status of medical personnel in armed conflicts. By integrating these two distinct but interconnected legal frameworks, this article aims to highlight the complexities involved in ensuring the protection and effective functioning of medical personnel in armed conflicts and to propose recommendations for strengthening their legal and labor protections.
The state must protect public health and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, often by limiting certain human rights. While quick action is crucial, it must align with constitutional safeguards. During the COVID-19 epidemic, Slovenia introduced a curfew that lasted 174 consecutive days. However, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia did not assess its constitutionality, as it dismissed the related initiatives. This article examines the curfew's legal basis, the constitutional standards governing such measure, and whether the ordinances met the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality in a democratic society. The findings show that the curfew in Slovenia was introduced on an unconstitutional legal basis, and the constitutional-law analysis conducted in this article further confirms its incompatibility with the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia.
This paper examines the chosen aspects, circumstances and frameworks in the field of pharmaceuticals. The Authors first investigate the role of the U.S., Slovenian and the EU bodies that regulate, monitor and supervise the functioning of the pharmaceutical industries. Both, the EU's agency EMA and the U.S.'s administration FDA, try to achieve the same purpose-to establish and maintain public health and safety. With their qualifications and power, they greatly contribute to the quality of medicinal products on both markets. However, there is one big difference between them. That is the power over making the medicines available and the setting of prices. While the EMA and for example JAZMP, the Slovenian competent authority, have the control over this financial aspect, FDA does not. The paper further on examines, what are the checks and boundaries for the setting of prices and in this regard, what is regulated within the legislative framework of Slovenia, the EU and the U.S. The fact that health is a fundamental right in EU Member States, but not in the U.S., alone explains the striking divergence in the cost of drugs in the EU as compared to the U.S.
The paper analyses the evidentiary function of psychiatric expertise in tort proceedings, emphasizing its significance within Slovenian contractual and non-contractual liability regimes. Psychiatric experts are essential in establishing causation and assessing the extent of non-pecuniary damage, thereby shaping judicial determinations of fault and compensation. Effective adjudication requires reciprocal legal-medical literacy: judges should understand the basics of psychiatric evaluation, while experts must grasp fundamental tort and procedural principles. The study highlights the need for unified psychiatric assessment criteria consistent with established jurisprudential standards to enhance legal certainty, coherence, and fairness in the quantification of damages within tort law. Such harmonisation would strengthen the consistency and predictability of judicial practice.
The most salient bioethics principle in American medical care is respect for autonomous decision-making. This principle of autonomy is established in law through 'informed consent' rules, which have been refined in American law for more than a century. Desperately ill individuals who enroll in research trials often believe they are accessing new therapies that will benefit them personally, even when the consent forms they sign explicitly state that no benefit is promised. This 'therapeutic misconception' and related autonomy-based concerns cast doubt on the genuineness of informed consent obtained from desperately ill patients enrolling in research trials. Related concerns about comprehension and consent have shaped debates about whether terminally ill patients should have access to experimental medical products outside of research trials. Suggestions are offered for enhancing informed consent by desperately ill patients and for alternatives to steering them towards research trials.
Euthanasia remains a contentious subject of debate in countries around the world and in South Africa. The South African court system has been faced with requests for the decriminalisation of euthanasia. This paper thoroughly examines on the current legal position of physician-assisted euthanasia (hereafter referred to as "PAE") in South Africa. South African law permits the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments which may be viewed as passive euthanasia. We examined relevant constitutional rights in order to argue towards a case for the legalization of PAE. These rights include the rights to dignity, to life, to equality, to freedom of religion, belief and opinion, as well as the right to freedom and security of the person. In arguing the foundational bases to legalize PAE we also analyze South Africa's constitutional law common law, case law, statutory law and foreign law. We also examine the recommendations of the South African Law Commission. The paper also examines how Canada has accepted PAE and implemented legislative measures to safeguard and regulate how medical practitioners practice it.
State and private surveillance authorities may lawfully infringe fundamental rights when obtaining information. However, the public often mistakenly equates private detectives' (hereinafter: detectives) personal perception with covert investigative measures used by police and intelligence services. It is essential to distinguish between these two forms of privacy interference. Detectives may use personal perception-lawful, time-limited observation from public spaces-to gather evidence for their clients. Although discreet, it is not a covert investigative act. Detectives may use imaging devices, while state authorities have broader surveillance powers. The purpose of personal perception is to develop evidence for a client, whereas covert surveillance serves criminal or intelligence objectives and entails a deeper privacy intrusion. Despite its lesser intensity, detective work must also be properly regulated and subject to oversight.
Hungary is facing an increasingly acute eldercare challenge driven by rapid demographic aging, persistent socioeconomic vulnerability, and shifting legal responsibilities. This article examines the contemporary 'duty to care'through a socio-legal lens, focusing on the interaction between law, social policy, solidarity, and work-life balance. Using qualitative and normative legal analysis combined with interpretative policy review, the study analyses Hungarian constitutional and statutory frameworks alongside demographic data and social service trends. The findings reveal a structural contradiction: while care needs are expanding, public support mechanisms-pensions, care allowances, and community-based services-remain inadequate in real terms, and responsibility is increasingly shifted onto families. These rebalancing places disproportionate pressure on informal caregivers and intensifies conflicts between employment and caregiving obligations. The article argues that without a strengthened, operationalized concept of solidarity-embedded in legal guarantees, integrated care services, and supportive employment policies-the current framework risks deepening social exclusion, gender inequality, and intergenerational injustice in an aging Hungarian society.
The study was conducted to determine the level of social responsibility of the medical staff of the Osh City Clinical Hospital of Kyrgyzstan. For this purpose, a survey of 251 respondents was conducted among residents of the Osh region on the provision of qualified medical care. The results showed that the level of social responsibility of the hospital was assessed predominantly at an average level by 55-60% of respondents. Patients highly evaluated the effectiveness of treatment (63% high evaluations), whereas the performance of nursing staff was rated highly by only 26% of respondents, indicating an asymmetry in professional responsibility. In addition, 52% of respondents assessed the accessibility of healthcare services as high, while institutional and financial barriers remained significant. The findings demonstrate that social responsibility in healthcare is shaped by the uneven distribution of professional, institutional, and organisational resources, which is reflected in differentiated assessments of medical staff performance, service accessibility, and financial coverage.
This is the full issue of Medicine, Law & Society, Volume 18, Number 2, published in October 2025.
This is the full issue of Medicine, Law & Society, Volume 18, Number 1, published in April 2025.
This article examines the Constitutional Court of Slovenia's rulings on the government's COVID-19 measures between 2020 and 2022. During the pandemic, the Slovenian government imposed lockdowns, curfews, and school and business closures, and required a "COVID pass" for access to services. These restrictions significantly interfered with fundamental rights, leading to numerous legal challenges. The Constitutional Court found several of these decrees unconstitutional, revealing serious tensions between public health governance and constitutional democracy. The article has two main goals: to evaluate the extent of rights violations and to assess whether rule-by-decree is aligned with democratic principles. The findings show that the rule of law was often undermined, with pandemic-related legal tools at times used to pursue authoritarian political aims. Slovenia's case demonstrates the fragility of democratic institutions in emergencies. It highlights the vital role of constitutional courts in defending the constitutional order, especially when they themselves face political attacks in increasingly illiberal environments.
This article examines the growing phenomenon of live-in care in the European Union, with particular focus on services provided by posted workers, including third-country nationals. It situates live-in care within the broader EU sociolegal framework, tracing the evolution of recent policy developments such as the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Care Strategy, and documents arising therefrom. The article analyses the latest phenomena in cross-border livein care, including deinstitutionalisation of care, highlighting how person-centred and community-based models are reshaping the field. Special attention is devoted to gender dimensions, including the disproportionate burden on women and the 'daughterhood penalty'and 'motherhood penalty'. By linking legal, economic, and social aspects, the article assesses whether EU policies effectively address current challenges in that regard and their future impact concerning more sustainable care provision.
Mental health among law enforcement personnel has become a growing concern, raising questions about institutional responsibility and legal protections within the workplace. This study explores the factors influencing mental health among Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) members at IPK Kedah, focusing on legal and organizational implications. The research aims to identify key stressors and examine whether age and job rank correlate with psychological well-being, using a quantitative approach involving 100 respondents who completed structured questionnaires. Findings reveal that occupational stress is the leading contributor (mean = 4.821), followed by personal/family (4.392) and social factors (3.895). Pearson correlation shows significant positive relationships between mental health issues and both age (r = 0.416) and position (r = 0.398), with p < 0.05. The paper argues for the urgent need to strengthen mental health policies within policing institutions and contends that legal reform and administrative intervention are essential to safeguarding officers' psychological welfare.
This article provides an analysis of the Slovenian Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, in both its previous and amended versions, which is founded upon the paradigm "My life, my right". The original bill, which was regarded as highly liberal, contained numerous exceptions that effectively allowed euthanasia for all individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities. This analysis critically examines the most controversial legal provisions of the bill and anticipates consequences should it be implemented, particularly from the perspective of vulnerable healthcare users. The analysis demonstrates that the original formulation of the right to medically assisted dying conflicts with the foundational principles of the healthcare system and is inconsistent with the Patient Rights Act. The amended Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill provides physicians with the options to both reject medically assisted dying applications and to employ safeguards to protect patients in transitional distress from premature death.
This study aims to develop an educational model and guidelines for promoting sexual health in older adults (55+), addressing ageism, stereotypes, and gerontophobia. Despite its significance for successful aging, sexual health in older adults is often neglected. The study involved 651 participants (aged 55-75) and used a quantitative approach, examining factors like health status, sexual activity, and education through an online survey. Key findings include a positive correlation between health and sexual satisfaction (r = 0.2 to 0.4, p < 0.001) and the importance of sexual knowledge in life satisfaction (F = 90.027; p < 0.001). Results underline the need for tailored educational programs and open discussions on sexuality. The proposed model aims to improve sexual well-being and overall quality of life, promoting a holistic approach to sexual health care to older adults. These findings are relevant for shaping policies and interventions in Slovenia and globally.
This paper examines the legal regulation of medical procedure safety and proposes avenues for legislative enhancement informed by international norms. A comparative legal analysis was performed utilising the cases of Bulgaria, Italy, and Kazakhstan. The study utilised a systematic methodology to evaluate legal efficacy and predictive techniques to delineate potential advancements. The findings reveal that all three countries acknowledge the right to healthcare at the constitutional level, but implementation strategies vary. Bulgaria and Italy utilise insurance-based healthcare systems that incorporate private sector involvement. Bulgaria faces challenges in harmonising its law enforcement with European norms, whilst Italy's decentralised Servizio Sanitario Nazionale results in regional disparities. Kazakhstan upholds a state-centric regulatory framework but lacks comprehensive legal safeguards for patients and medical practitioners, especially concerning liability insurance. No country possesses a comprehensive legal framework for digital medicine. Key proposals include improving insurance protections, harmonising national laws with international norms, and regulating emerging medical technologies.
This study investigates legal and policy reforms to will, and international cooperation. Using mixed-methods, legal analysis, literature review, and comparative case studies, it key areas for reform. Insights from Germany and Singapore offer practical governance models. Grounded in empirical data and legal scholarship, the study proposes context-sensitive landscape. It contributes to global discourse on drug policy and urges policymakers to adopt integrated, adaptive strategies that reduce harm and align with international standards.
