Citation

Rameix S. Gerontologie et Societe 2004; 108(1): 97-111.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004)

DOI

10.3917/gs.108.0097

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Nowadays some authors defend the concept of a "right to die". This can be explained by the institutionalising of death (people die in hospital, in institutions,..), the medicalisation and technicalisation of death (intensive care, very heavy treatment of chronic diseases..) and those human rights movements proper to democracies (individualism, active minorities, freedom movements..). How can the right to die be analysed? It unfolds onto three debatable rights : (a) the right to palliative care, (b) the right to refuse treatment, even vital, and (c) the right to assisted suicide or euthanasia (to be helped to die or to receive death from a third party). In France, the law of 9 June 1999 legalised the first two of these rights, (a) and (b). Our reflection will therefore concentrate on three points. First, we will demonstrate how strongly points (a) and (b) are complementary and how these two rights really do constitute a coherent and legitimate "right to die", both morally and politically. We will then ponder on the utility of (c) if (a) and (b) are guaranteed and we will question the moral and political validity of (c) as a right. Finally we will wonder whether the third right to be introduced should not be the right to have a say in one's own death.

Language: fr