title: [Is it possible to die a good death?].
abstract: Is there any sense in wondering if one can "die a good death" Indeed, the word "euthanasia" as such offers food for thought. Obviously, human beings must die. The only real question is: Can help and assistance be given (through others) to a person when facing this ineluctable issue; and, if so, in which way and how far? To make things clearer, two points may be taken into consideration. On the one hand, it is a fact that the roman-catholic tradition has been able to set up a practice of a "good death piety", or even a "good death pastoral". But, on the other hand, we must not forget that when we consider what "euthanasia" means for the end of life and bear in mind what "eugenism" means for the beginning of life as well as the way it has been used, then it can only put us on the alert for possible serious abuse.... Considering all this, the question may be put as follows: not: is it possible, under certain circumstances, to give someone his or her death; but: how must I help and assist a person to live his or her life to the very end, if possible up to death?
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Théologie et de Sciences Religieuses, l'Institut Catholique de Paris.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doré
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*