title: [Human dignity and human rights of severely disabled persons. On the significance of the current "quality of life discussion" for treatment and care of elderly incurable patients].
abstract: Concurrent with a nursing shortage and the increasing indigent requiring care in Germany preliminary discussions are emerging about quality of life and the rights of this socioeconomic group. This contribution shows which effects such a discussion may have on the care of a most defenseless segment of our society. It counters those who deny these rights and opposes their view of human dignity, which is characterized by categories of self-consciousness and intellectual ability. According to the christian view, dignity is a transcendental state and cannot be categorized as an empirical matter by virtue of its presence or absence. Exaggerated ideals of health have overshadowed realities of incurable disease, lingering illness, and dying, and is easily leading us to discount such people as being "unworthy to live". According to the view presented nursing carers are valued.
authors.affiliation: Universitätskliniken Bonn.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eibach
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016330:Frail Elderly; D005858:Germany; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008489:Medical Indigency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011788:Quality of Life; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
vernacular_title: Menschenwürde und Menschenrechte schwerstpflegebedürftiger Mitmenschen. Zur Bedeutung der gegenwärtigen "Lebenswert-Diskussion" für die Behandlung und Pflege alter und unheilbarer Menschen.