Death with Dignity: Semantic Incompatibility

Abstract

New attempts to create legislation on processes of imminent or irreversible death are referred to as “death with dignity” laws.  The terms used are controversial and erroneous, aimed at move forward on a utilitarian and partial notion of the conception of human life.  This article demonstrates the law is not a valid resource for lending a state of dignity to the process of dying.  While it may help to transfer the responsibilities of patients who are unconscious or mentally incapacitated, the attributes of moral dignity or lack thereof can be transferred only in accordance with the personal perspectives of those who confront such responsibilities from a position consistent with human integrity.