The Living Will

Authors

  • Juan José Etxeberría Sagastume SJ Universidad de Deusto

Keywords:

Living Will, Legislation, Euthanasia, Orthothanasia

Abstract

The Living Will is a document in which one expresses his or her desire not to be submitted to a particular therapy in the case of a terminal illness. This article gives information about the national and regional laws upon which the Living Will is founded. By no means should the Living Will be confused with active euthanasia: it consists rather in accepting «orthothanasia», that is, the refusal of unreasonably prolonging the life of the patient, thus so avoiding any futile and painful life support. Living Wills suppose the assertion of the principle of one’s autonomy in the final moments of life in democratic and plural societies.

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Published

2018-11-06

How to Cite

Etxeberría Sagastume SJ, Juan José. “The Living Will”. Estudios Eclesiásticos. Revista de investigación e información teológica y canónica 80, no. 315 (November 6, 2018): 813–828. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://revistas.comillas.edu/index.php/estudioseclesiasticos/article/view/9592.