The bioethical debate on euthanasia (“good death”) has been classically polarized between the principles of sacredness of life - the argumentation against - and the quality of life, represented by the vicarious principle of respect for autonomy - the argumentation in favor. In both cases the question is built around the pertinence and moral legitimacy - or not - of the individual possibility to decide about the termination of one’s own existence, demanding for oneself a good death. Undoubtedly, euthanasia always implies besides the self, the other, who will either carry out the action - or hold to non-action - culminating in the abbreviation of life. To propose a discussion about this last referred issue, based on the bioethics of protection theoretical references and the concept of laic compassion is the scope of the present essay.
Bioethics; Compassion; Protection; Euthanasia