Dignity

Abstract

The concept of human dignity plays an increasing role in contemporary bioethics. This chapter aims, first, to offer a brief account of the notion of dignity and to show how it has shaped several bioethical discussions over the last decades; second, to stress that, in addition to its guiding function as a general principle, human dignity also operates as a concrete moral standard for patient care at the bedside; and third, to emphasize the especial relevance of the notion of dignity in the debates surrounding end of life issues, such as those relating to palliative care, withholding or withdrawing life sustaining treatments, assisted suicide and euthanasia.