Abstract

In Belgian law, the concept of human dignity has no legal definition. In addition to the international instruments and decisions of the European Court of Human rights that refer to it, the Belgian legislature has, in a number of fields, adopted normative provisions that are underpinned by this concept. In the instruments, decisions and opinions concerning a particular theme of biomedicine, it takes on a range of applications, which may even contribute to the concept’s general ambiguity within the legal system, or even with regard to a single issue. The discussions often oscillate between the dignity of each human being as the common good of the human community, and another form of dignity which prioritizes the autonomy of the individual, involving accountability and self-respect.