摘要：The discussion on euthanasia still remains one of the most burning ones in bioethics field.
This paper will analyze the debate between those who refuse euthanasia because of the
sanctity of human life, and those who defend it with the foundamental ideas of quality of
life and individual autonomy. Behind this opposed views, there’s a more foundamental
discussion between an old view of human rights, grounded on the respect to a «natural»
order, and a modern one, inheritor of a lay humanism, which considers autonomy as the
main value.
关键词：bioethics, human rights, autonomy, consent, treatment refusal, public policies,
living will.
