title: Euthanasia: reconciling culture and human rights.
abstract: The constitutional justifiability of euthanasia will depend upon interpretation of the right to life and the right to respect for and protection of one's dignity. Pertinent issues arising hereto are: In our new value-based constitutional interpretation, what are the values underlying our multi-cultural society? Issues of death and dying are inter-linked to a civilization's world view and its approach to human dignity. Western, African and Islamic approaches will be compared. Does euthanasia negate the essential content of the right to life and is its limitation on such right reasonable/justifiable in an open and democratic society based on freedom and equality.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public Law Vista University (BFN), South Africa.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Goolam
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death; D003469:Culture; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D012297:Right to Die; D012945:Social Values; D013019:South Africa