The Right to Die With Dignity:
Choice and Communication at the End of
Life
May
14, 2009
     There are several questions
regarding dignity at the end of a patient’s life. Is it a fundamental human
characteristic or psychological need? How does the concept of dignity fit in
with other psychological phenomena that we regularly talk about, does it have
certain components such as autonomy or control or is it an individual state to
be experienced? Is dignity a useful concept that adds to our understanding of a
good death and of good end-of-life care? Another useful question is - does
compromising dignity always lead to suffering? Most of us accept indignities in
the course of medical care and dying, indeed all through life. (Billings,
2008).
In
an article on dignity at the end of life, the author Billings (2008) proposes
that one of the most important health care attitudes is to come to patients and
their families prepared to actively listen to what they are saying, to what
their needs and concerns are, and not to come with an agenda prepared in
advance. Care providers need to appreciate what patients and their families
value. The families and patients need help in articulating their needs and
goals. This may all come within the scope of ‘dignity’. (Billings, 2008).
