Dignity: A unifying concept for Palliative Care and human rights

The concept of human dignity is complex. Its meaning and emphasis have shifted over time. It is a concept that occupies a central place in two disciplines – palliative care and human rights law. This article examines the evolution of the meaning of dignity, the nature of intrinsic and extrinsic dignity and its place in palliative care and human rights law (especially as it pertains to the international right to health care). The thesis of this article is that the recognition of and response to the inherent dignity of the human person is a unifying concept for the two disciplines and forms part of the theoretical foundation of the assertion that palliative care is a fundamental human right.