Bioethical considerations on models for end-of-life care

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Medical Ethics
• End-of-Life Care

Background:

• Contemporary societies grapple with diverse end-of-life care models.
• Existing frameworks like human dignity face conceptual challenges.
• Bioethical discourse requires re-evaluation of established end-of-life principles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze three institutionalized fields in end-of-life care: euthanasia/assisted suicide, medical futility, and kalothanasia.
• To examine the impact of these models on patients' lives and the conceptual weaknesses of terms like human dignity.
• To explore the ethical and philosophical underpinnings of kalothanasia for improving end-of-life practices.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of end-of-life care models.
• Conceptual analysis of bioethical terms and their implications.
• Ethical and philosophical examination of kalothanasia.

Main Results:

• Identifies euthanasia/assisted suicide, medical futility, and kalothanasia as key models.
• Critiques the conceptual limitations of traditional bioethical banners.
• Highlights the ethical and philosophical basis of kalothanasia for good end-of-life care.

Conclusions:

• Recommends rethinking bioethical postulates, particularly concerning euthanasia.
• Emphasizes the importance of kalothanasia for organizing quality end-of-life care.
• Suggests a need for enhanced ethical frameworks in end-of-life decision-making.