Professional negligence - gyomujoukashitsu

Neglecting the necessary caution when repeatedly and continuously performing a certain dangerous activity in social life. In the current Criminal Code, the crime of negligence resulting in death or injury includes, as aggravated types of normal negligence, professional negligence, and gross negligence, as well as negligence in driving a motor vehicle, which was added in 2007 (Heisei 19) (Penal Code Article 211, Paragraphs 1 and 2). In addition to normal negligence, the crime of negligence resulting in fire also includes provisions for professional negligence and gross negligence as aggravated types (Penal Code Article 117-2). In the past, the overwhelming majority of cases of negligence resulting in death or injury were cases of professional negligence due to the large number of traffic crimes, but since the addition of negligence in driving a motor vehicle, they have been handled as the crime of negligence resulting in death or injury.

Here, "work" means an activity that is repeated and continuous in social life. First, work must be an activity in social life, so for example, housework that is done daily at home is part of private life and does not fall under this category. Therefore, if a fire occurs while cooking, it does not constitute the crime of negligence in the course of work. In addition, since work must be performed repeatedly or continuously, no matter how dangerous an activity is, it does not fall under this category if it is not repeated and continuous (however, there is a court case that has determined that an activity does fall under this category even if it is not currently being performed repeatedly and continuously, if there is an intention to continue it repeatedly). Furthermore, as long as it meets these requirements, it can be called work, so there is no question of whether the work is legal or illegal, and it does not have to be literally performed as an activity (work) associated with a profession.

[Tetsuro Nawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

社会生活においてある危険な活動を反覆・継続して行うにあたり必要とされる注意を怠ること。現行刑法には、過失致死傷罪のなかに、通常の過失の加重類型として、業務上過失、重大な過失のほか、2007年（平成19）に追加された自動車運転上過失がある（刑法211条1項、2項）。また、失火罪についても、通常の過失に加えて、加重類型として、業務上失火と重失火の規定がある（刑法117条の2）。過失致死傷事件については、交通事犯の多さから、かつては、その圧倒的部分を業務上過失による場合が占めていたが、自動車運転上過失の追加以降は、自動車運転過失致死傷罪によって処理されることとなった。

　ここに「業務」とは、社会生活上反覆・継続して行う活動を意味する。まず、業務は社会生活上の活動でなければならないから、たとえば家庭で日常的に行う家事などは私生活上のものであり、これには該当しない。したがって、炊事を行うに際し火を失しても業務上失火罪にはあたらない。また、業務は反覆または継続して行うことを要するから、いかに危険性の高い活動であっても、反覆継続性がなければ、これにあたらない（ただし、現に反覆継続していなくても、反覆継続しようとする意思があれば、これにあたるとした裁判例がある）。なお、これらの要件を満たす限り業務といえるから、この業務が適法か違法かを問わないし、文字どおり職業に伴う活動（仕事）として行われることを要しない。

［名和鐵郎］

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