Abstract

Using examples from the sphere of biomedicine, and particularly end-of-life decision-making, this chapter explores how the concept of human dignity is used and applied in the English common law. Originally interpreted from an objective communitarian perspective, dignity was often invoked to limit individual claims which were perceived as an affront to the intrinsic dignity of each human being. However, the more recent trend sees dignity as offering justification for the invocation of a more liberal-oriented approach to ensure individual subjective rights.