This article aims to outline some questions about death with dignity in the XXI century. To do so, five items are considered: 1. Death portraits in the XXI century: Interdiction death, over exposure death and some examples of undignified deaths nowadays; 2. Patients' needs at the end of life, and how the concept of terminal patient promotes generic care; 3. Definitions, clarifications and bioethical issues involving euthanasia, dysthanasia and orthothanasia; 4. Living wills and Anticipatory Guidelines of Will are presented as a possibility of rescuing patients autonomy and a tool which facilitates families decisions about treatment when patients are not able to; 5. Reflections about ways to promote death with dignity in the XXI century, emphasizing the development of palliative care programs in Brazil.
Death; Dignity; Palliative care; Bioethics