The obligation to use face masks in public spaces as a public health measure and permissible limits on civil liberties.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities have imposed various social restrictions on a massive scale. This Viewpoint discusses current issues about the legality of restrictions and current knowledge about how to prevent the spread of Sars-Cov-2. Although vaccines are already available, other basic public health measures are needed to suppress the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and reduce the COVID-19 related mortality: isolation, quarantine, and wearing of face masks. This Viewpoint shows that the emergency measures during a pandemic are important for protecting the public's health, but they may only be legitimate if they are based in law, are in accordance with medical knowledge, and aim to limit the spread of infectious agents. We concentrate on a legal obligation to wear face masks as it became a most recognizable symbol of the pandemic. It was also one of the most criticized obligations and the subject of divergent views.

[Elements of state coercion in health care: selected issues]. / Elementy przymusu panstwowego w sluzbie zdrowia publicznego--wybrane zagadnienia.

Polish system of public law provides for the possibility of forced subjection of a person to a medical procedure, both in case of infectious and mental illnesses. The authors discuss the cases of infectious illnesses, subject to compulsory treatment in outpatient medical care and to compulsory hospitalization, as well as the procedure protocol in case of suspicion or corroboration of an infectious illness case. Another reason for a physician's authorization to initiate a compulsory medical procedure without the patient's consent is suspicion of a mental illness; whenever the patients' behavior can endanger them, other persons or their immediate surroundings. Introduced is also a detailed description of actual status in order to illustrate an appropriate application of coercion means.

[Legal aspects of the health care institution liability for nosocomial infections]. / Aspekty prawne odpowiedzialnosci zakladów opieki zdrowotnej za zakazenia szpitalne.

In this paper, the basic concepts concerning the liability of health care institution for nosocomial infections are presented. The principles of ex contracto and ex delicto liabilities, as well as the concept of so-called anonymous guilt are discussed. The range of duties for both the health care institution and the employed medical personnel is indicated, the duties and the consequences of their non-fulfillment are systematized, and the obligatory jurisdiction concerning the functioning of prima facie evidence is considered. The author aimed at explaining the principles governing the civil liability of health care institutions and their employees.