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  5. Legal regulation of social relations in the field of health care: episteological approach

Almanac of law. Issue 17 (2026), pages 654–663.

DOI: 10.33663/2524-017X-2026-17-654-663

Yusifova Sevindzh, Haraieva Zokhra
Legal regulation of social relations in the field of health care: episteological approach

The article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the epistemological foundations of legal regulation of social relations in the field of health care, which is becoming particularly relevant in the context of societal transformation and the modernization of state policy in the health care sector. The epistemological approach is viewed as a tool for identifying internal contradictions, limitations, and the potential of the current legal system, as well as for defining the role of the legal subject in the processes of lawmaking and law enforcement.

A thorough historical analysis of the evolution of legal regulation of relations in the health care sphere from ancient times to the present has been carried out. It is revealed that the earliest attempts at legal regulation emerged in the form of religious and moral prescriptions when medicine was closely linked to religion, and the responsibility for treating the sick was placed on priests or clergy. In Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, the first elements of organized medical assistance were formed, although legal regulation remained limited and was controlled by religious and political institutions.

The development of health care regulation in the European context is analyzed, particularly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, when science and medicine began to gain independence from religion. The formation of state public health systems in the 16th–18th centuries is examined, including the emergence of the first regulatory acts on sanitary supervision and epidemic control. The 19th century period of social reforms is identified as particularly significant, when public health systems began to take shape in European countries, notably with the adoption of Public Health Acts in the United Kingdom and the introduction of the world’s first system of compulsory health insurance in Germany under Otto von Bismarck.

The specificity of the development of legal regulation of health care in Ukraine is revealed, which was marked by its inclusion in various states and the shift of political regimes. The study covers the period from Kyivan Rus, where legal regulation of medical activity was minimal, through inclusion in the Russian Empire with the gradual formation of a state health care system, the Soviet period characterized by state monopoly on medical services, to the modern stage of independent Ukraine with the adoption of the Fundamentals of the Health Care Legislation of Ukraine in 1992.

The contribution of leading legal schools to the development of the concept of legal regulation is analyzed. The views of representatives of the German school of law are considered, particularly Georg Jellinek with his doctrine of the binding nature of law for the state, Gustav Radbruch with his concept of balancing justice, legal certainty, and expediency, and Hans Kelsen with his theory of “pure law.” Considerable attention is given to the French school of law, especially the concept of social solidarity by Léon Duguit, which became fundamental to understanding legal regulation in the field of health care as an area of interaction between individual and collective interests.

The current state of legal regulation in the field of health care in Ukraine is presented through the lens of a comprehensive approach to structuring social relations. A three-level system of regulation (strategic, operational, and tactical levels) is outlined, and the importance of integrating scientific knowledge into the process of legal norm creation is emphasized. Attention is focused on the problems of objectivity and relevance of knowledge used in legal regulation due to incomplete or outdated scientific data and insufficient integration of modern scientific knowledge into the legislative process.

It is concluded that the epistemology of legal regulation of social relations in the field of health care is based on an understanding of the complex nature of these relations and a cognitive analysis of social, economic, and ethical factors.

Keywords: epistemology, legal regulation, health care, social relations, legal system, history of medicine, medical law, strategic regulation, lawmaking, law enforcement, legal evolution, international standards, social law, state policy, health legislation, medical guarantees, informed consent, rights protection.

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Дата першого надходження рукопису до видання: 19.02.2026
Дата прийнятого до друку рукопису після рецензування: 09.04.2026
Дата публікації: 30.04.2026

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