unterlassene

Unterlassene is the inflected form of the German verb unterlassen, meaning to refrain from, omit, or neglect to do something. In German grammar it functions as a past participle used as an adjective, typically describing actions that were not undertaken. It appears most often in compound phrases such as unterlassene Hilfeleistung or unterlassene Pflichten, where the attribute denotes an omission rather than an completed action.

The most common and widely discussed use of the term is in the legal phrase unterlassene Hilfeleistung, meaning failure to render aid. In German law this concept refers to the act of not providing reasonable assistance to someone in danger when one is able to do so without cruel risk to oneself or others. The phrase is regularly encountered in criminal law discussions and case summaries, where authorities note that a duty to help can arise from the circumstances, public policy, or a special relationship between the parties involved.

In the context of the German Criminal Code, unterlassene Hilfeleistung is codified as a crime under sections dealing with failure to provide assistance in emergencies. The core idea is to protect the welfare of others by imposing a legal obligation to act in certain situations. The exact boundaries—what constitutes reasonable and possible aid, and when a duty exists—are determined by the specifics of each case and may be shaped by case law, context, and jurisdiction.

Beyond law, unterlassene is used more broadly in formal writing to describe omissions in actions or policies, such as unterlassene Maßnahmen or unterlassene Pflichtverletzungen, highlighting the absence of expected conduct in various professional, administrative, or organizational contexts.