Dignified death

Dignified death, death with dignity, dying with dignity or dignity in dying is an ethical concept that refers to the end-of-life process avoiding suffering and maintaining control and autonomy.^[1] In general, it is usually treated as an extension of the concept of dignified life, in which people retain their dignity and freedom until the end of their existence.^[2]

Although a dignified death can be natural and occur without any type of assistance,^[2] the concept is frequently associated with the right to die,^[3] as well as with the defense of the legalization of practices such as voluntary euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, terminal sedation or the refusal of medical assistance.^[4] According to its defenders, the possibility of this type of practices would be what would guarantee a dignified death, keeping free decisions until the last moment and avoiding an unnecessary agony.^[2][5]

See also

• Death with dignity (disambiguation)
• Right to die
• Assisted dying (disambiguation)

References

1. "El derecho en los finales de la vida y el concepto de muerte digna". Apuntes de Bioética. 2016.
2. "¿Qué es muerte digna?". Fundación Pro Derecho a Morir Dignamente.
3. "La muerte digna como un derecho humano emergente". Revista DyCS Victoria. 2020.
4. "Ética y muerte digna: propuesta de consenso sobre un uso correcto de las palabras". Revista de Calidad Asistencial. 2008.
5. "Derecho a Morir Dignamente".