This research proposal focuses on the regulation of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS), adopting an interdisciplinary approach that combines legal—i.e., constitutional and criminal—analysis with empirical insights from the field of public governance and regulatory governance. The latter refers to the frameworks, institutions, and processes through which laws and regulations are formulated, implemented, and enforced in order to achieve specific policy goals.
The central question this research project seeks to address is: How can legal and regulatory mechanisms be designed to effectively protect weak and vulnerable individuals in the context of euthanasia and PAS? The core hypothesis is that conventional approaches regarding this issue—i.e., straightforward decriminalization—may be insufficient. Rather than treating regulation as a mere legal formality, the project investigates the potential of a regulatory model that actively encourages medical professionals to subject euthanasia and PAS practices to transparent systems of supervision and oversight.