Criminal Aspect of Suicide

Abstract

The article concerns suicide as seen from the perspective of criminal law. It portrays crimes connected with the act of taking one's own life – encouraging and assisting suicide, bullying and persistent stalking which result in suicide attempt. It also raises the subject of failure to render aid to a suicide in a life-threatening condition, concentrating on criminal responsibility of a doctor connected to lack of patient's consent to medical treatment. In connection with this the article presents conclusions de lege ferenda, connected with excluding illegality of a medical treatment aimed at protecting life and health of a suicide. The article also contains general characteristics of the phenomenon of suicide, as well as prevention programs which aim at reducing the rate of suicide attempts.