Autonomy, care and respect: the debate on assisted extension of life

Authors

  • Léo Peruzzo Júnior Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1344/rbd2017.39.17718

Keywords:

care, respect, autonomy, anticipated guidelines, assisted extension of life

Abstract

Technological advances associated to medical techniques have been leading health professionals to have life extension as their tireless goal. However, the success of such procedures in patients with no chance of recovery and presenting decision-making autonomy has been only extending the process of dying. In this sense, on the one hand giving up the treatment is viewed as a form of suicide, and on the other hand the interruption of the treatment by the medical staff is viewed as active euthanasia. Therefore, quality of life is associated to healing rather than caring. The present article aims to demonstrate that the assisted extension of life reconciles the dimensions of autonomy, care and respect, and that these are responsible for maintaining the concept of dignity.

Author Biography

Léo Peruzzo Júnior, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná

Doutor em Ética e Filosofia Política pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC. Professor colaborador do Programa de Pós-Graduação Mestrado e Doutorado em Filosofia da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná – PUCPR. Professor da Escola de Educação e Humanidades e da Escola de Direito da PUCPR.

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How to Cite

Peruzzo Júnior, L. (2017). Autonomy, care and respect: the debate on assisted extension of life. Revista De Bioética Y Derecho, (39), 121–134. https://doi.org/10.1344/rbd2017.39.17718

Issue

2017: Núm. 39 - mar

Section

General section

License

Licencia de Creative CommonsThe author retains the copyright and grants Revista de Bioética y Derecho the right of first publication of the article. All articles published in Revista de Bioética y Derecho are under Creative Commons licensing Recognition – Non Commercial – NoDerivedArtwork (by-nc-nd 4.0), which allows sharing the content with third parties, provided that they acknowledge its authorship, initial publication in this journal and the terms of the license. No commercial use of the original work or generation of derivative works is permitted.