CHARACTERISTICS OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRIME OF ABORTION IN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Аннотация

This article describes the issues of criminal responsibility for the crime of abortion in foreign countries. In particular, it is based on the fact that the issue of the subject of abortion is solved differently, in particular, in a number of countries (Austria, Belgium, Spain, Germany) the responsibility of the pregnant woman for abortion is also provided, but it is not appropriate to determine the responsibility of the pregnant woman for criminal abortion. The methods of committing a crime in different countries as aggravating circumstances for criminal liability are analyzed - the use of special medical devices (Belgian Criminal Code); violence, intimidation, deception (Spanish Criminal Code, Polish Criminal Code); causing serious bodily harm or leaving a pregnant woman in danger of death (German Federal Republic). It is justified that the legislation of European countries regulates in detail the cases of exemption from responsibility and punishment. In particular, the following cases have been thoroughly substantiated as circumstances exempting from liability and punishment: if the pregnancy term does not exceed three months; if there is a threat to the life or health of the pregnant woman; if there are fetal pathologies (Austria and Belgium); if the prescribed deadlines are observed and a medical certificate is available; if there is a risk of causing serious physical or mental harm to the pregnant woman's health; if the pregnancy is the result of a punishable act (Germany); if the abortion is carried out by a licensed doctor based on the written consent of the woman (Switzerland). It has been scientifically substantiated that in foreign countries, criminal liability for illegal abortion is differentiated to some extent, including liability for persuading a pregnant woman to undergo an illegal abortion (Poland); for providing or distributing medications to terminate pregnancy (France, Germany); for promoting early termination of pregnancy (Germany); and for failing to report the fact of having performed an abortion (Switzerland). The article presents reasonable proposals and conclusions on criminal responsibility for the crime of abortion in foreign countries.