Abstract

The research encompasses the study of ethical and legal issues surrounding the finitude of life. In this sense, topics such as Bioethics were examined to understand the concepts within bioethics, including euthanasia, dystanasia, orthothanasia, mistanasia, and assisted suicide, to build knowledge on the subject. Regarding the methodology, an interdisciplinary and systemic approach was used, involving Ethics, Law, Philosophy, and Health fields, while addressing the following question: What are the main ethical and practical dilemmas involved in preserving the right to a dignified life in the context of extending the life of an incurably ill individual, considering the non-negotiable nature of human dignity? In light of this, the study focused on Bioethics, specifically the conceptual and principled foundation as understood in Bioethics. In this way, aspects related to the finitude of life were addressed in the first instance, using the foundational theory of Ronald Dworkin’s work, presenting the values that correspond to human life in both the legal and personal realms, and attributing the concept of human dignity through a historical analysis leading to its current understanding.