Human Dignity and the Right to Self-determination over One’s Own Body. Considerations Regarding the Refusal of Medical Treatment and Surrogacy Agreements

Abstract

This paper seeks to elaborate on the practical implications of an understanding of human dignity both as an element intrinsic to the concept of person and as a foundation of human rights. These implications are projected on decisions pertaining to the refusal of medical treatment and surrogacy agreements in order to assess their alignment with or contradiction of the proposed notion of human dignity. Firstly, a definition is provided on the basis of international legal instruments on human rights as well as European and Argentine bills of rights. This is followed by a historical review of a classic philosophy approach to the fundamentals of human rights and human dignity. From the conclusions drawn, cases of refusal of medical treatment and self-determination over one’s own body under conscientious objection and both altruistic and commercial surrogacy agreements are addressed. The former seems coherent with a founding sense of dignity; the latter is understood as contrary to the affirmation of dignity. Surrogate maternity practices are envisioned as a gender stereotype that reduces the woman and child to objects of third parties’ rights.