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Mellan liv och rätt - En analys av den rättsliga regleringen av sen selektiv fosterreduktion i Sverige

Olsson, Louise LU (2024) JURM02 20241
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
I samband med graviditeter förekommer flerbörd, vilket leder till ökade medicinska risker för både fostren och den gravida kvinnan. Det gör att det kan finnas anledning att reducera antalet foster. Fosterreduktion kan bl.a. göra att möjligheterna att överleva ökar för kvarvarande foster. Trots att fosterreduktion har visat sig vara ett ingrepp som minskar riskerna för både foster och modern så är det ett komplext område där juridiska aspekter inte tydligt har adresserats.

Fosterreduktion kan både vara icke-selektiv och selektiv. Selektiv fosterreduktion innebär att ett specifikt foster tas bort, vilket t.ex. kan bero på sjukdomar hos just det fostret. Vid beslut om detta uppkommer komplicerade situationer och gränsdragningar, särskilt i... (More)
I samband med graviditeter förekommer flerbörd, vilket leder till ökade medicinska risker för både fostren och den gravida kvinnan. Det gör att det kan finnas anledning att reducera antalet foster. Fosterreduktion kan bl.a. göra att möjligheterna att överleva ökar för kvarvarande foster. Trots att fosterreduktion har visat sig vara ett ingrepp som minskar riskerna för både foster och modern så är det ett komplext område där juridiska aspekter inte tydligt har adresserats.

Fosterreduktion kan både vara icke-selektiv och selektiv. Selektiv fosterreduktion innebär att ett specifikt foster tas bort, vilket t.ex. kan bero på sjukdomar hos just det fostret. Vid beslut om detta uppkommer komplicerade situationer och gränsdragningar, särskilt i senare skeden av graviditeten. Syftet med uppsatsen är därför att analysera den rättsliga regleringen av sen selektiv fosterreduktion i Sverige. Utöver svensk rätt kommer också ett komparativt inslag att göras av norsk och dansk rätt för att ge ytterligare perspektiv på reglering av fosterreduktion. För att uppnå syftet kommer gällande rätt att analyseras genom den rättsdogmatiska metoden. För det komparativa inslaget kommer den komparativa metoden att användas.

Den första frågeställningen som utreds i uppsatsen är hur början av det mänskliga livet definieras, eftersom vid den tidpunkten infaller rättigheter och skyldigheter vilket får konsekvenser för genomförande av sen selektiv fosterreduktion. Då det saknas en uttrycklig reglering för fosterreduktion kommer abortlagstiftningens bestämmelser att studeras med anledning av att bestämmelserna angränsar till området. Den andra frågeställningen är vilka olika argument det finns för och emot en eventuell tillämpning av abortlagstiftningen vid sen selektiv fosterreduktion. Den sista frågeställningen är om det finns några skillnader i regleringen av sen selektiv fosterreduktion i Norge och Danmark i jämförelse med Sverige. Då det saknas en uttrycklig reglering för sen selektiv fosterreduktion i Sverige, så kommer det komparativa inslaget att presenteras för att ge ytterligare perspektiv på avväganden och reglering av sen selektiv fosterreduktion.

Det råder delade meningar om livets början infaller vid befruktningen, implantationen, fosterrörelser, livsdugligheten eller födsel. Utifrån Europadomstolens praxis, Europakonventionen, Barnkonventionen och annan svensk lagstiftning kan någon klar definition eller tidpunkt för livets början inte utrönas. I frågan om en eventuell tillämpning av abortlagstiftningen vid sen selektiv fosterreduktion finns det utifrån olika tolkningar utrymme att både argumentera för och emot abortlagens tillämplighet. Om sen selektiv fosterreduktion bör tolkas inom dessa bestämmelser är oklart och beroende på tolkningssätt. Den sista frågan om Norges och Danmarks regleringar visar att det finns både likheter och skillnader i reglering av fosterreduktion. I Danmark och Norge regleras sen fosterreduktion likt sen abort. Ländernas förarbeten och lagstiftning utgör exempel på hur fosterreduktion kan regleras, vilket är av intresse för utvecklingen av svensk rätt.

Slutligen kan det konstateras att det saknas en tydlig rättslig reglering i svensk rätt för genomförande av sen selektiv fosterreduktion och det efterfrågas därför en översyn av nuvarande bestämmelser. En uttrycklig bestämmelse hade varit önskvärd för att bl.a. skapa ökad transparens och rättssäkerhet kring vad som gäller vid sen selektiv fosterreduktion i Sverige. (Less)
Abstract
Pregnancies are in some cases associated with multiple pregnancies, which is leading to increased medical risks for the fetus and the pregnant woman. This means that there may be a reason to reduce the number of fetuses. Among other things, fetal reduction can increase the chances of survival for the re-maining fetuses. Although fetal reduction has been shown to be a procedure that reduces the risks to both the fetus and the mother, it is a complex area where legal aspects have not been clearly addressed.

Fetal reduction can be both non-selective and selective. Selective fetal reduction involves the removal of a specific fetus which could be due to a medical condition in that particular fetus. Decisions about this involve complicated... (More)
Pregnancies are in some cases associated with multiple pregnancies, which is leading to increased medical risks for the fetus and the pregnant woman. This means that there may be a reason to reduce the number of fetuses. Among other things, fetal reduction can increase the chances of survival for the re-maining fetuses. Although fetal reduction has been shown to be a procedure that reduces the risks to both the fetus and the mother, it is a complex area where legal aspects have not been clearly addressed.

Fetal reduction can be both non-selective and selective. Selective fetal reduction involves the removal of a specific fetus which could be due to a medical condition in that particular fetus. Decisions about this involve complicated situations and boundaries, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. The purpose of this paper is therefore to analyse the legal regulation of late selective fetal reduction in Sweden. In addition to Swedish law, a comparative element will also be made of Norwegian and Danish law to provide further perspective on the regulation of fetal reduction. In order to achieve the aim, current law will be analysed through the legal dogmatic method. For the comparative element, the comparative method will be used.

The first question examined in the paper is how the beginning of human life is defined, as this is the point when rights and obligations arise, which has implications for the performance of late selective fetal reduction. In the absence of explicit regulation of fetal reduction, the provisions of the abortion legisla-tion will be studied on the grounds that they are adjacent to this subject. The second question is which arguments there are for and against the possible application of the abortion legislation to late selective fetal reduction. The final question is whether there are any differences in the regulations of late selective fetal reduction in Norway and Denmark as compared to Sweden. As there is no explicit regulation of late selective fetal reduction in Sweden, the comparative element will be presented to provide further perspective on the considerations and regulation of late selective fetal reduction.

There are different opinions as to whether the beginning of life occurs at fertilisation, implantation, fetal movement, viability or birth. Based on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other Swedish legislation, no clear definition or point in time for the beginning of life can be identified. On the question of the possible application of abortion legislation in the case of late selective fetal reduction, there is room to argue both for and against the applicability of the abortion legislation based on different interpretations. Whether late selective fetal reduction should be interpreted within these provisions is unclear and depends on the interpretation. The last question about the regulations in Norway and Denmark shows that there are both similarities and differences in their regulations of fetal reduction. Late fetal reduction is regulated like late abortion in both Denmark and Norway. The countries' legislative history and legislation provide examples of how fetal reduction can be regulated, which is of interest for the development of Swedish law.

Finally, it is noted that there is no clear legal regulation in Swedish law for the implementation of late selective fetal reduction and a review of the current provision is therefore requested. An explicit provision would have been desirable in order to increase transparency and rule of law regarding what applies to late selective fetal reduction in Sweden. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Olsson, Louise LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Between life and law - An analysis of the legal regulation of late selective fetal reduction in Sweden
course
JURM02 20241
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
medicinsk rätt, offentlig rätt, rättsvetenskap
language
Swedish
id
9152835
date added to LUP
2024-06-11 15:54:52
date last changed
2024-06-11 15:54:52
@misc{9152835,
  abstract     = {{Pregnancies are in some cases associated with multiple pregnancies, which is leading to increased medical risks for the fetus and the pregnant woman. This means that there may be a reason to reduce the number of fetuses. Among other things, fetal reduction can increase the chances of survival for the re-maining fetuses. Although fetal reduction has been shown to be a procedure that reduces the risks to both the fetus and the mother, it is a complex area where legal aspects have not been clearly addressed.

Fetal reduction can be both non-selective and selective. Selective fetal reduction involves the removal of a specific fetus which could be due to a medical condition in that particular fetus. Decisions about this involve complicated situations and boundaries, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. The purpose of this paper is therefore to analyse the legal regulation of late selective fetal reduction in Sweden. In addition to Swedish law, a comparative element will also be made of Norwegian and Danish law to provide further perspective on the regulation of fetal reduction. In order to achieve the aim, current law will be analysed through the legal dogmatic method. For the comparative element, the comparative method will be used. 

The first question examined in the paper is how the beginning of human life is defined, as this is the point when rights and obligations arise, which has implications for the performance of late selective fetal reduction. In the absence of explicit regulation of fetal reduction, the provisions of the abortion legisla-tion will be studied on the grounds that they are adjacent to this subject. The second question is which arguments there are for and against the possible application of the abortion legislation to late selective fetal reduction. The final question is whether there are any differences in the regulations of late selective fetal reduction in Norway and Denmark as compared to Sweden. As there is no explicit regulation of late selective fetal reduction in Sweden, the comparative element will be presented to provide further perspective on the considerations and regulation of late selective fetal reduction. 

There are different opinions as to whether the beginning of life occurs at fertilisation, implantation, fetal movement, viability or birth. Based on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other Swedish legislation, no clear definition or point in time for the beginning of life can be identified. On the question of the possible application of abortion legislation in the case of late selective fetal reduction, there is room to argue both for and against the applicability of the abortion legislation based on different interpretations. Whether late selective fetal reduction should be interpreted within these provisions is unclear and depends on the interpretation. The last question about the regulations in Norway and Denmark shows that there are both similarities and differences in their regulations of fetal reduction. Late fetal reduction is regulated like late abortion in both Denmark and Norway. The countries' legislative history and legislation provide examples of how fetal reduction can be regulated, which is of interest for the development of Swedish law.

Finally, it is noted that there is no clear legal regulation in Swedish law for the implementation of late selective fetal reduction and a review of the current provision is therefore requested. An explicit provision would have been desirable in order to increase transparency and rule of law regarding what applies to late selective fetal reduction in Sweden.}},
  author       = {{Olsson, Louise}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Mellan liv och rätt - En analys av den rättsliga regleringen av sen selektiv fosterreduktion i Sverige}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}