最后的尊严:论老有善终

Final Dignity:A Good Ending at Old Age

死亡是对人生的终极追问,也关涉生命的最后尊严。安乐死(仁慈死)虽然是服务于小众人口的需要,但保障的却是全体人口的死亡权利,因为任何人特别是高龄老人都有沦为安乐死病人的诸多风险。只要安乐死实施程序严格严谨,在未来社会依然有不可或缺的存在价值。尊严死(自然死)则是大众人口的向往,其实现路径是生前预嘱、缓和医学和安宁疗护。安乐死和尊严死在捍卫人类最后的尊严方面可谓殊途同归、相得益彰,相辅相成地诠释了以人为本即以生命的尊严为根本的人文理念。

Death is the ultimate question of life and also related to the final dignity of life.Although euthanasia(benevolent death)serves the needs of a small population,it guarantees the death right of the entire population,because anyone,especially the elderly has many risks of becoming an euthanasia patient.As long as the euthanasia implementation procedure is strict and rigorous,it will have indispensable existence value in the future society.Death with dignity(natural death)is the longing of the public,and the path to achieve it is living will,palliative medicine and hospice care.Euthanasia and dignified death can serve the same purpose in defending the final dignity of mankind.They complement each other and interpret the humanistic concept of human-orientation,that is,the dignity of life.