Right to die

Cohen-Almagor, Raphael

Abstract

This entry opens with a concise history of the right to die movement. Then it provides a conceptual framework, explaining key terms that are often utilized by those who advocate physician aid-in-dying: liberty, autonomy, dignity, respect, concern, quality of life and suffering. Contra quality of life considerations, arguments relating to the sanctity of life are presented. Reflecting on whether the physician’s role includes also termination of life, guidelines are suggested that balance between patient’s wishes and our shared concern to prevent abuse, explaining that while physicians cannot be obligated to end life, those who accept that patients do have the right to die may come to their assistance.

Citation

Cohen-Almagor, R. (2014). Right to die. In Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics (1-14). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_386-1

• Online Publication Date: Oct 24, 2014
• Publication Date: 2014
• Deposit Date: Jun 1, 2016
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-14
• Book Title: Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics
• ISBN: 9783319055442
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_386-1
• Keywords: Autonomy, Dignity, Ethics, Euthanasia, Physician-assisted suicide (PAS), Physician's role, Quality of life, Suffering
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/439065
• Contract Date: Jun 1, 2016