Bioethical Aspects of the Question of “Good” Death (Euthanasia) in Contemporary World

Abstract

Every human being has the right to live and it is a fundamental human right – the right of life. But in today's modern society, the question of right of dignity in dying and death and of the right to a painless death is also inevitable. In this context, there are attempts of legal regulation of euthanasia! However, if painless death in the same time means also a murder, we should reject it. Moreover, because we have another possible and even more an ethical alternative – palliative medicine, or care, because it protects human dignity, which the use of euthanasia negates it! Thus, palliative medicine that promotes the culture of life at its end and connects the highest quality medical advances and the compassionate care for patients and their families with emotional and spiritual support significantly reduces the demand for euthanasia, and makes it redundant. This as a possibility, but what are actually the practice and the situation in contemporary life pervaded with the maxim “Carpe diem!”? How does the modern man who accepts that life is worth living only under the aspect of quality of life as defined by criteria of living standards, benefits, happiness, mobility, painlessness, absence of suffering… understand euthanasia? Hence, the text deals with the different definition of euthanasia and palliative care through the prism of bioethics and its key issues – human dignity.