CONTEMPORARY LEGAL ISSUES IN BIOETHICS: GENETIC ENGINEERING AND END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS

Abstract

The rapid development of genetic engineering and the expansion of end-of-life decision-making practices generate complex legal and bioethical dilemmas that directly affect fundamental human rights. These developments create tensions between scientific progress, the state’s obligation to protect life, and the need to respect individual autonomy. The absence of unified legal approaches to regulating biomedical practices highlights the necessity for systematic analysis of international and supranational standards. This study aims to identify and characterize contemporary legal dilemmas in genetic engineering and euthanasia within a bioethical framework, while clarifying the limits of permissible regulation based on human dignity and personal autonomy. The research focuses on legal mechanisms governing biomedical interventions at international and supranational levels and applies theoretical-analytical and normative methods, including the examination of conventions, recommendations, and judicial practice. The findings demonstrate that regulation of genetic engineering operates as a multi-level system of substantive and procedural safeguards, with human dignity as a key limiting principle. Individual autonomy gains legal significance when exercised through structured procedures such as informed consent and ethical oversight. Furthermore, judicial practice increasingly frames autonomy as a procedural standard balancing the protection of life with self-determination, contributing to the development of coherent governance standards.