The right to psychic integrity of patients under palliative care in defense of the dignity of the human person

Abstract

The present work aims to demonstrate the importance of protecting the personality rights of patients in palliative care, especially the right to psychological integrity, as a means of corroborating the dignity of the human person. Ensuring a dignified existence for patients diagnosed with diseases with limited possibilities of cure through the provision of essential material resources is a common objective of fundamental human rights, among which the right to integrity is included. In this context, health professionals must be attentive and sensitive to the needs of patients receiving palliative care and their families, which includes listening to their concerns, providing information clearly, and respecting their decisions, in order to ensure that their dignity and psychological integrity are respected until the end of life. Throughout this article, issues will be exposed that permeate the preponderance of the principle of human dignity in relation to people with illnesses that threaten the continuity of life, as well as the right of the patient and family to opt for palliative treatment, from a humanized perspective, as a way of guaranteeing their psychological integrity. The research method used was qualitative, of the bibliographic and documentary review type, based on doctrine and domestic and international legislation.