Legal definition of pain

Ponkin I. V.
doctor of science (Law), professor¹, State Professor

Ponkina A. A.
PhD (Law), expert²

1 - Institute of Public Administration and Management of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
2 - Consortium of experts on patients' rights

The article investigates the concept of pain. The article shows that the question of getting rid of the pain and suffering from it has a substantial legal significance, it is a question of dignity and human rights. The authors explores the variety of meanings for the word «pain», shows the variety of existing definitions of these concepts, describes the factors hindered generation of the relevant definition of pain. The article noted that there is currently no common, accurate and comprehensive definition of the concept of pain. It is concluded that such a definition is absolutely necessary – for better palliative and hospice care, for assess the damage caused to health, for evaluation of the content and consequences of the defect of health care, for evaluation of the nature and gravity of torture committed on a person, etc. The article proposes the author's definition of pain. The article explores and describes the negative and positive factors of pain.

pain, suffering, palliative and hospice medical care, patients' rights, health care, medical law

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