Review of the collective monograph by T.V. Semina, V.A. Klevno, A.Yu. Gusev, O.V. Veselkina “Criminal liability of a doctor in modern Russia” edited by T.V. Semina

The authors reviewed the monograph by T.V. Semina, V.A. Klevno, A.Yu. Gusev, O.V. Veselkina “Criminal liability of a doctor in modern Russia” under the general edition of T.V. Semina.

This monograph has an important theoretical, educational and practical value, will make a significant contribution to minimizing cases of criminal prosecution of doctors, and will also serve as a good tool for training highly qualified personnel in legal and medical specialties.

The publication can be recommended to practicing doctors, administrations of medical institutions, forensic medical experts, researchers, graduate students and students of medical specialties, as well as to a wide range of readers.

The authors gave a review of the collective monograph by T.V. Semina, V.A. Klevno, A.Yu. Guseva and O.V. Veselkina «Criminal liability of a doctor in modern Russia» under the general editorship of T.V. Semina.

A monograph on a new, relevant, little-studied topic is of great theoretical, cognitive and practical importance, makes a significant contribution to minimizing cases of criminal prosecution of doctors, since the ultimate responsibility for the deterioration of patients’ health in case of poor-quality treatment lies with the attending physician.

The Decree of the President of the Russian Federation «On the National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation» provides that the state socio-economic policy being implemented in the Russian Federation is aimed, in particular, at ensuring a decent life and free development of a person, creating conditions for improving the health of citizens, increasing life expectancy, reduction in mortality.

The healthcare industry affects the most valuable thing that humanity has - life and health: all this makes the problem of criminal liability of a doctor, its importance and relevance, particularly acute. In Russia, over the past five years, the number of criminal cases against doctors has increased 5 times; The medical community fears not only criminal prosecution, but also the criminalization of the profession. Patients’ rights activists also believe that criminal punishment deprives the profession of the opportunity to recognize doctors’ mistakes, analyze and correct them. Instead, doctors are intimidated by the possibility of criminal punishment, and they develop only a criminal mindset.

In a number of cases, the life and health of citizens become the object of criminal encroachment on the part of medical workers, which makes iatrogenic crime one of the pressing problems of modern Russia, which is currently not properly studied, understood and analyzed from a scientific standpoint. In this regard, the collective monograph «Criminal liability of a doctor in modern Russia» should be recognized as timely and very relevant.

The publication will serve as a good guide for the training of highly qualified personnel in legal and medical specialties and can be recommended to practitioners, administrations of medical organizations, forensic experts, researchers, graduate students and students of medical specialties, as well as a wide range of readers.