• Journal of Legislation Research
• /
• no.54
• /
• pp.261-301
• /
• 2018

In South Korea, the number of households that rear companion animal has been gradually increasing. With the rise of household dogs, the frequency of humans that are being bitten by another's dog has also increased. This type of accident, which is known as a dog bite accident throughout the United States. It can cause significant physical and emotional damage to the victims and may result in grave injuries or death. Dog bite accidents are serious public health problems and can cause immeasurable hidden costs to the community. South Korea has enacted several laws to address dog bite accidents, which include the Animal Protection Act, the Civil Act, and the Criminal Act. On March 20, 2018, the Animal Protection Act was amended to reinforce the current legislation. These amendments addressed the duty of care owed by a companion dog owner to society members and the punishment that an owner of a fierce dog would face in the event of a dog bite accident. Conversely, several states in the United States have enacted a single law that regulates the details regarding dog bite accidents, such as the type of dog or animal, the type of damage, the scope of compensation for damages, and the scope of recognition of liabilities. This paper is intended to review the present situation of dog bite legislation in several states in the United States, which have a variety of laws that address dog bite accidents, and compare them with current South Korean dog bite legislation. Through this research, this paper will discuss what issues may exist in South Korean's current dog bite laws, analyze the responsibility of companion dog owners, and provide solutions to any issues that are discovered.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.55-84
• /
• 2015

The tuberculosis is the infectious disease. Generally, the active tuberculosis patient can infect the 10 persons for one year within the daily activities like casual conversation and singing together. The infectivity of tuberculosis can continue for a life time, and infected persons can remain at risk for developing active tuberculosis. To control this contagious disease, along with the active tuberculosis patients, non-infectious but non-compliant patients who can be infectious if their immune systems become impaired have to be managed. To control the non-complaint patients, medical treatment order should be combined with the public order. Because tuberculosis is the risk of community health, the human rights like liberty and freedom of movement can be restricted for public welfare under the article 37(2) of constitution. Even when such restriction is imposed, no essential aspect of the freedom or right shall be violated. The degree of restriction on the rights of citizens is different what methods are chosen to non-complaint patients. For example, under the directly observed therapy program, the patients and medical staffs make an appointment and meet to confirm the drug intakes according to the schedule, which is the medical treatment combined with the mildest public order. If the patients break the appointments or have the history of disobedient, the involuntary detention can obtain the legitimate cause. The Tuberculosis Prevention Act has the two step programs on this involuntary detention, The admission order (Article 15) is issued when the patients are infectious. The quarantine order (Artle 15-2) is issued when the patients are infectious and non-complaint. The legal criteria for involuntary detention are discussed and published through the international conventions and covenants. For example, World Health Organization had made guidance on human rights and involuntary detention for tuberculosis control. The restrictions should be carried out in accordance with the our law and in the legitimate objective of public interest. And the restriction should be based on scientific evidence and not imposed in an unreasonable or discriminatory manner. We define and adopt these international criteria under our constitution and legal system. Least restrictive alternative principle, proportionality principle and the individual evaluation methods are explained through the reviews of United States court decisions. Habeas Corpus Act is reviewed and adopted as the procedural due process to protect the patient rights as a citizen. Along with that, what conditions and facilities which are needed to performed quarantine order are discussed.