Research and Transfer
Research and transfer activities in the field of health and social law form a central component of Erik Hahn’s academic work. His academic interests encompass the broad field of health law—including medical law, mental health law, health promotion and prevention law, and guardianship law—with a particular focus on the digitization of health and social services and the associated data protection law. In the area of social law, he focuses primarily on health-related benefits, social security law, the right to a minimum standard of living, the European coordination of social security systems, and social administration law. Another area of research is the legal framework for social services and professions, and, more generally, the special legal status of vulnerable groups. In all of the aforementioned fields, national, European, international, and comparative legal perspectives are taken into account to the greatest extent possible.
Beyond theoretical analysis, his work is characterised by a strong translational dimension. He advises ministries, professional bodies and research institutions, contributes to national and European policy development, and participates in interdisciplinary projects addressing resilience, public health, and the ethical governance of care.
The selected projects presented below span legal opinions, third-party funded research, international collaborations and long-term expert roles in ethics oversight and regulatory development.
Healthy Growing Up
Legal Opinion on “Health Promotion as a Task of Child and Youth Welfare and the Legal Anchoring of Cooperation with Other Service Providers” • AGJ-projeCt „Themenbotschafter*in Gesundes Aufwachsen“) • 2024–2025
Stable Social Security Systems
Stabilising Social Security Systems – Legal Opinion on Reforming Contribution Principles and the Statutory Insurance Community • Cooperation with ifo Dresden, Funding by a state ministry • 2023
Ethics in Dementia
COST Action 21137 “Ethics in Dementia (EDEM)” – EU-funded European research network on ethics, dignity, autonomy and quality of life in dementia care • Member of the Management Committee (appointed by German Federal Ministry of Education and Research) • since 2023
New Saxon Mental Health Legislation
Legal Advisory on the Revision of the Saxon Mental Health Act • Consultancy for the Saxon State Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Cohesion • 2023
Outpatient Care Infrastructures
Legal Opinion on Strengthening the Resilience of Outpatient Care Infrastructures and the Safety of People in Need of Care in Everyday Disruptions and Crises • funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research • 2022
Regulation of Remote Treatment
Comparative Legal Analysis of Telemedicine Regulations during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany and the Baltic States (Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz, Rīga Stradiņš University & Mykolas Romeris University) • funded by the Baltic-German University Liaison Office (German Academic Exchange Service) • 2022
Ethics Committee
Member of the Ethics Committee of the Saxon State Chamber of Physicians – evaluation of clinical trials under Regulation (EU) 536/2014 (medicinal products), Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (medical devices), and the Saxon Professional Code for Physicians • Professional-law advisory for physicians involved in research affecting physical or psychological integrity or involving human biological materials or personal data • since 2019