DIGNITY: In Life & In Death

As people have the right to live with dignity, they also have the right to die with dignity. This book explores the current and parallel themes of dignity in life and death. Some medical conditions are simply so painful and unnecessarily protracted that the capability of the medical profession to alleviate suffering by means of palliative care is not considered.Endless terminal suffering robs the victims of most of their dignity. In addition, medical science and practice, with all of our advanced technology, is currently capable of an unprecedented prolongation of human life.Enormous pressure is placed upon both families and the health care system to spend time and very costly resources on patients that have little or no chance of recovery and are irrevocably destined to die. It is, so the argument goes, not inhumane or irreverent to assist such patients – particularly if they clearly and repeatedly so request – to bring their lives to an end.