The The Concept of Proportionality in End-Of-Life Care. From Iura Et Bona to Samaritanus Bonus

Abstract

Introduction. The concept of proportionality, as reflected in the documents Iura et Bona and Samaritanus Bonus, is an important issue in Catholic bioethics, particularly in the care of terminally ill persons. Both documents emphasize the difference between ordinary (necessary) and extraordinary (optional) treatments and encourage the avoidance of invasive and painful measures that do not bring significant benefit. By reaffirming the value of integral human care, emphasizing that medical interventions must be weighed in terms of real benefits and respect for life, both documents regard proportionality as an ethical guide for medical decisions and a benchmark for the maintenance of human dignity, providing a solid moral foundation in Catholic medical ethics. Purpose of the paper. To analyze the application of the concept of proportionality through the lens of these two documents, and to reaffirm bioethical principles in the treatment and care of terminally ill persons. Materials and methods. Articles and documents of the Catholic Church from the last 40 years were investigated by using the analytical-descriptive method and by researching of information. Conclusions. 1. The constant concern of the Catholic Church in respecting the person and human dignity in palliative care centers and hospitals; 2. Sounding an alarm bell against utilitarian conceptions of the perception and definition of the human person; 3. To form and stimulate charitable sensitivity according to the model of  the "Good Samaritan" in the Gospel.