Dignity in Dependency: A Christian Communal Alternative to Physician-Assisted Suicide

Weaver, Sarah Catherine

Dignity in Dependency: A Christian Communal Alternative to Physician-Assisted Suicide

dc.contributor.advisor	Whitt, Jason
dc.contributor.author	Weaver, Sarah Catherine
dc.contributor.department	University Scholars.	en_US
dc.date.accessioned	2021-08-24T13:06:07Z
dc.date.available	2021-08-24T13:06:07Z
dc.date.copyright	2021
dc.date.issued	2021-08-24
dc.description.abstract	Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is one manner of dying that people may choose when diagnosed with a terminal illness. Many people who pursue PAS do so because they fear the loss of autonomy that accompanies dying and believe that they will also lose their dignity in the vulnerability and dependency of dying. This thesis intends to challenge the notion that dignity is inherently tied to autonomy, a notion that devalues the lives of individuals who are living and dying with diminished autonomy, and will offer an approach toward dying that honors the dignity of the all people. The rhetoric of supporters of PAS relies on an idea of personhood in which a person is only dignified if they are autonomous. This view does not account for the dignity of all people. This thesis will examine the status of PAS in the United States, focusing on the Death with Dignity Act in Oregon and the supporters of PAS that identify with the ‘death with dignity’ movement. Next, various accounts of personhood will be discussed, and attention will be paid to their accounts of autonomy and dignity. Lastly, this thesis will propose an approach to end-of-life care based on the medieval Christian literary tradition of ars moriendi, or the art of dying. Aspects of the ars moriendi, particularly cultivation of virtues for the dying person and imitation of the life and death of Jesus, will be reclaimed to support a Christian approach to dying well within community.	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/2104/11530
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.rights	Baylor University projects are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.	en_US
dc.rights.accessrights	Worldwide access	en_US
dc.title	Dignity in Dependency: A Christian Communal Alternative to Physician-Assisted Suicide	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US