Human Dignity and Bioethics

508 | Rebecca Dresser
contends that Macklin’s argument “urges us…not to throw dignity
out but rather to reclaim it, embrace it, draw on and develop existing
theoretical and empirical work.…” 8 Timothy Caulfield and Audrey
Chapman conclude that “a pronouncement that something infringes
human dignity should be viewed as an opportunity to debate the
values at play and the cultural underpinnings of the concern.” 9 What
is needed, then, is more work on the dignity concept. It is too early
to consign dignity to the scrapheap.
A third shortcoming in Macklin’s claim is its lack of respect for
the individuals and groups that see dignity as a significant bioethical
concern. As Gallagher puts it, “In response to Professor Macklin’s
question, ‘Why, then, do so many articles and reports appeal
to human dignity, as if it means something over and above respect
for persons or for their autonomy?’ it might be asserted ‘Because it
does mean something over and above respect for persons and autonomy.’”
10 A belief’s popularity is not necessarily evidence of its
validity, of course. But widespread popularity is a reason for critics to
consider that belief carefully, instead of dismissing it outright.
Dignity from the Patient’s Perspective
There are many ways that we could learn more about the meaning
of human dignity. The concept deserves further theoretical and empirical
investigation from a variety of vantage points. One possibility
would be to conduct surveys of different individuals and groups to
elicit their views on the matter. Such surveys might identify similarities
that suggest empirical agreement on the meaning of dignity in
various settings.
In the remainder of this essay, I adopt a form of this approach.
I present my own and other writers’ views of how dignity concerns
arise in medical care. Human dignity is implicated when patients and
families face decisions about ending life, but it also is implicated before
that, when patients are undergoing treatment for serious illness.
During this time, the patient’s dignity can be honored or compromised
in numerous ways. Here, I describe how privacy, communication,
personal knowledge, and dependence connect to dignity for
people facing serious illness.