Human Rights and the Recognition of the Right to Leave to Say Goodbye for Palliative Care Patients

Abstract

          The freedom of individual decision-making extends to the “right to choose medical treatment and well-being in the final stages of life.” This is part of respecting individual privileges and inherent human dignity, not limited to the “right to receive medical treatment” according to medical standards, but also encompassing the “right to receive care,” which focuses on quality of life and emotional support. Therefore, end-of-life care is not merely about prolonging life with medical technology, but also about respecting human dignity according to the individual’s wishes. This aligns with the concept of fundamental rights that guarantee individuals the freedom to refuse treatment in the final stages of life, in order to uphold the right to a peaceful death in accordance with nature and human dignity, or what is known as “natural death,” which is the core of palliative care. Therefore, this academic article aims to present the issue of human rights protection in the dimension of transitioning from “treatment” to “care” in the final stages of life. This guarantees the right to leave so that family members can participate in the care and palliative care of terminally ill patients during this most meaningful period of life. Even when a person’s physical condition weakens, they still retain their human dignity, as well as the right and freedom to fully determine the course of their own final stage of life, under the fundamental principles of human rights.