THE CRIMINAL OFFENCE OF “QUACKERY” IN THE MACEDONIAN LEGISLATION AND PRACTICE
Keywords:
Quackery; Criminal Code; Human health; Republic of Macedonia.Abstract
Purpose
The Paper shall focus on one of the criminal acts within the Chapter 21 of the Macedonian Criminal Code, i.e. the criminal act titled “Quackery” (in Macedonian language “Надрилекарство”). Although its object of protection is human health, it can be noted that not enough attention is given to this criminal act by practice and scientific thought. In essence, the Quackery is performed by a person who, without the prescribed qualification, deals in treatment or in providing medical assistance.
Design/Methods/Approach
The Paper shall pay attention to the relevant literature, legal acts, statistical data and court practice. Concerning the legal acts, the focus shall be on the Criminal Code, but at the same time the other legal acts addressing the issue of human health shall not be neglected. Furthermore, а comparative analysis of the legislation of other countries shall be conducted as well. In addition, the Paper shall provide scientific analysis and description of the statistical data disposable to the Macedonian authorities and shall elaborate specific cases in which a Quackery was established.
Findings
From the references used, the Paper shall make an effort to determine why the Quackery is not receiving enough attention in the literature. By analyzing the Macedonian Criminal Code as well the other legislation, the important characteristics of this criminal act shall be determined, and at the same time, through the comparative analysis, it shall be possible to compare how Quackery is regulated in other countries. Furthermore, the review of cases in which Quackery was established shall allow to acknowledge the ways of its performance in practice, including what type of sentences have been imposed to the convicted persons.
Originality/Value
The Paper shall try to emphasize that the human health is an extremely important object of protection, it is an area in which there should no improvisations allowed to be performed by unqualified persons, and that there must be strict rules about who can engage in treatment or provide medical assistance. All of this implies that the Macedonian relevant stakeholders must take a more serious approach when it comes to Quackery.
References
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