IS THERE A DEATH WITH DIGNITY IN TODAY’S MEDICINE?

Abstract

This paper deliberates on one of the all-time issues in philosophy, theology,
(bio)ethics and medicine, that is, the issue of death and dying, placing it in a
contemporary context. Namely, contemporary medicine with its expanding
knowledge in the field of biomedical science and technology requires a new
approach in determination of its goals. Nowadays, more than ever, these goals need
a revision from an interdisciplinary point of view. Exactly in the context of those
goals, the issue of death and dying should be approached, taking into account four
entities known in clinical bioethics, i.e. the bioethical classification of death and
dying: euthanasia, mysthanasia, dysthanasia and orthothanasia.