In order to analyze what can plausibly be said about the relationship between dignity, human rights, and democracy, I will propose a basic assumption about human dignity (I) and then formulate five theses concerning the justification of democracy (II) which will allow me to conclude (III) that only when human rights are constitutionally established and effectively implemented democracy can be t...

Quality palliative care depends on a deep understanding of distress facing patients nearing death. Yet, many aspects of psychosocial, existential and spiritual distress are often overlooked. The aim of this study was to test a novel psychometric--the Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI)--designed to measure various sources of dignity-related distress among patients nearing the end of life. Using sta...

BACKGROUND People nearing the end of life fear loss of dignity, and a central tenet of palliative care is to help people die with dignity. The Dignity Care Pathway (DCP) is an intervention based on the Chochinov theoretical model of dignity care. It has four sections: a manual, a Patient Dignity Inventory, reflective questions, and care actions. METHOD The feasibility and acceptability of the...

social engagement. This will not be simply a matter of income, although income is one way of measuring position in the hierarchy. Linking inequality in society with loss of dignity in individuals who are disadvantaged means that our set of social arrangements are crucial. By holding society responsible for human ills, including loss of dignity, are we not abrogating personal responsibility? The...

BACKGROUNDS In Oncology, little is known about dignity-related distress and the issues that influence the sense of dignity for patients. We validated the Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI) questionnaire in Italian patients on oncological active treatments. METHODS After the translation procedures, the PDI was administered to 266 patients along with other questionnaires to assess the psychometric...

Patient dignity is a complex yet central phenomenon. Disrespect for dignity can mean retention of sick role, loss of self-care and control, decreased participation and therefore influence healing. At the same time, nurses have an obligation to respect dignity, and patients expect it. In clinical practice, with the focus on efficiency and economy, dignity can be compromised. The surgical patient...

Abstract Obergefell v. Hodges , the 2015 Supreme Court decision establishing a constitutional right for same-sex couples to marry, marked first time in Court’s history that justices explicitly disagreed over meaning and requirements of human dignity. In his dissenting opinion Clarence Thomas sought reclaim rather than simply reject language dignity, advancing conception dignity differed sharply...