Ortotanásia como dilema bioético e jurídico: a redução do sofrimento de pacientes terminais e a garantia da dignidade humana

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the situation of orthothanasia in Brazil, as well as the relationship between doctor and patient in the application of this procedure and also the legal consequences. The form of methodological approach chosen was the one that involved researching the bibliographic type object. The main authors for the construction of reflections were Pessini (2007), Villas-Bôas (2008), and Santoro(2010). Understanding orthothanasia as a natural death without the interference of science in terminally ill patients who choose not to continue with therapeutic treatments, which are useless due to the seriousness of the disease, thus guaranteeing the incurable patient the autonomy of choice in the last days of life with respect for the principle of human dignity, provided for in article 1 of the Federal Constitution, in its 3rd item, which deals with the dignity of the human person as the foundation of the Federative Republic of Brazil. Among the most relevant results throughout this study, one can highlight the great dilemma that physicians still live around the practice of orthothanasia in Brazil, as it involves ethical, religious and family issues, which takes it to a sensitive level. in questioning the theory and legal concepts that involve it. Thus, the studies on this topic are researches with the application of an exploratory method, aiming to understand the care provided to people for whom the disease has no prospect of cure, and the legal consequences for doctors who practice orthothanasia from of the patient's will.