title: [Bioethics of protection and the laic compassion: the moral debate on euthanasia].
abstract: The bioethical debate on euthanasia (good death) has been classically polarized between the principles of sacredness of life--the argumentation against--and the quality of life, represented by the vicarious principle of respect for autonomy--the argumentation in favor. In both cases the question is built around the pertinence and moral legitimacy--or not--of the individual possibility to decide about the termination of ones own existence, demanding for oneself a good death. Undoubtedly, euthanasia always implies besides the self, the other, who will either carry out the action--or hold to non-action--culminating in the abbreviation of life. To propose a discussion about this last referred issue, based on the bioethics of protection theoretical references and the concept of laic compassion is the scope of the present essay.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário Serra dos Orgãos, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro, Teresópolis, RJ. rsiqueirabatista@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siqueira-Batista
authors.forename: Fermin Roland
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Schramm
mesh_terms: D026688:Bioethical Issues; D004645:Empathy / Q000941:ethics*; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics*; D010684:Philosophy