Personal autonomy and death

Abstract

This work aims at carrying out a bibliographical review about themes such as autonomy, informed consent and death, in order to demonstrate how controversial it is to debate death
in a social and professional context in Brazil. It shows that comprehension of the dying process will help professionals to care for the terminally ill, allowing them to pass away with dignity. It also shows that speaking or thinking about this topic gets increasingly difficult, when nothing else is left to relieve suffering before an imminent death. It concludes by considering that patients should have, at such a moment, the right to decide and choose a dignified destiny, either prolonging their agony on a hospital bed or ceasing to exist in the company of their beloved ones.