Predominant among the terminological ambiguities that plague contemporary bioethics is confusion attending the meaning of the term "human dignity," particularly as it applies to so-called end-of-life discussions. This study surveys current trends in treatment of the concept of dignity, examining relevant thinkers who see dignity as redundant or as capability-dependent. These inadequate views ar...

Understanding the complexities of distress and knowing who is most vulnerable is foundational to the provision of quality, palliative end-of-life care. Although prior studies have examined the prevalence of symptom distress among patients nearing death, these studies have tended to largely focus on physical and, to a lesser extent, psychological challenges. The aim of this study was to use the ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Colorectal cancer, one of the most common cancers in developed countries, is curable when diagnosed at an early stage. However, for better screening, both a test that patients will tolerate and diagnostic accuracy are required. We compared patient experiences and preferences between computed tomographic (CT) colonography and conventional colonoscopy (CC) under conscious sedation...

The respect for self-determination has represented a great challenge for the medical community. This debate has resulted in laws, codes of ethics, international treaties, and administrative guidelines, all with the purpose of protecting such right. In the medical field, the "Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with Regard to the Application of Biology an...

Background: Chronic renal failure is a life-threatening condition; patients due to the prolonged stress are very susceptible to mental health problems. Dignity therapy is a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of psychological problems for patients who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. Aim: This study examined the impact of dignity therapy on human dignity in patients undergoing he...