Dignity and Death in Dying

• Dignity


  The quality of being worthy of respect or honor. Treating oneself and others with respect, recognizing the inherent value and worth of each individual, regardless of their circumstances, background, or differences.
• Death with Dignity


  Terminally ill person has the ability to choose when, where, and how they will die. Allows the patient to articulate their end-of-life decisions to loved ones and healthcare professionals. Provides people the ability to end their life before illness overcomes them with pain or loss of control.
• The goal behind the Death with Dignity movement is to provide people with options for expressing their healthcare and death wishes to their families and caregivers before the disease or illness takes that ability away.
• Life-prolonging procedure


  Medical treatment used to keep a person alive for a longer period of time, but does not cure the underlying condition.
• Life-sustaining treatment


  Treatment needed to prolong a person's life, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, artificial hydration and nutrition, artificial ventilation, and in some cases, antibiotics and blood transfusions.
• Inviolability of human life


  The principle that human life should not be unlawfully taken, harmed, or treated as expendable. Encompasses respect for life in all its stages, from conception to natural death, and extends to all individuals regardless of their age, health, abilities, or circumstances. Recognizes no exceptions, meaning life should be preserved at all costs.
• Euthanasia


  The act of intentionally ending a person's life to relieve suffering or pain, typically due to a terminal illness or unbearable suffering that cannot be alleviated.
• Methods of euthanasia


  • Lethal injection
  • Voluntary stoppage of eating and drinking (VSED)
  • Assisted suicide
  • Euthanasia by proxy
• Active euthanasia


  Death is brought about by a deliberate action, such as administering a lethal dose of medication or performing a medical procedure with the explicit intention of causing the patient's death.
• Passive euthanasia


  Death is allowed to occur by withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment or medical interventions. Involves refraining from taking action to prolong the patient's life.
• Suicide


  The act of intentionally ending one's own life, typically as a result of various factors such as mental illness, emotional distress, or unbearable physical suffering.
• Assisted suicide


  Providing assistance or means to a terminally ill or suffering individual to end their own life, such as providing medication or other means for the individual to self-administer to hasten death.