Legal aspects of cancer deseases prophylactics: patients rights context

Introduction: In accordance with Resolution on Cancer Control WHA58.22 Cancer prevention and control The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly it is obvious technology for diagnosis and treatment of cancer is mature, and that many cases of cancer may be cured, especially if detected earlier Some key points on concept of legal regulation of abovementioned sphere is a base of this study. However, the problems of using an effective mechanism for protecting the rights of patients in certain types of disease, in particular cancer patients, by providing early diagnosis, are not fully developed by medical law specialists. The aim of the article is to determine the means of ensuring the right to health and life of cancer patients in particular through early diagnosis.

Material and Methods: This study is based on regulation acts, World health report (2013), The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, WHA58.22 Cancer prevention and control, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, research papers and views of progressive-minded people in this sphere. Article is grounded on dialectical, comparative, analytic, synthetic and comprehensive research methods.

Review: Most countries have declared a compliance of their national legislation with international standards regarding the right to life and health. The analysis of the abovementioned international acts in context of protection of the rights of patients with cancer leads to the conclusion that countries that have undertaken international legal obligations to protect the right to life are required to take the necessary measures to ensure the effective treatment of cancer patients. Taking into account that the lack of such treatment due to the specificity of the disease entails the death of the patient, the state inaction in this area should be regarded as a violation of a human right for life. Absence of state's policy in terms of early detection of cancer brings a huge problem of human rights violation and providing the standards of fundamentally different approach of the European Union countries could become a great solution.

Conclusions: Individual states do not pay sufficient attention to the need of effective public health policy. In today's world, there are objective prerequisites for changing the system of protection of patients' rights and, consequently, for changing views on health protection in general, especially in the part of functioning of diagnostic procedures system. Formation of a state policy on ensuring the rights of citizens to health and life, taking into account the various consequences of such a policy, cannot be narrowed down only to the proclamation of such rights, but also requires planning and development of relevant state programs. Failure by the state to provide the proper organization of health care through the establishment of early diagnosis for cancer patients, considering wide incidence and mortal danger of cancer in case of late diagnosis, should be considered as a violation of human rights. It also does not conform to ECHR practice in terms of provisions of Articles 2, 3 and 8 of European Convention.