La vita che sta dietro le parole. Alla ricerca di un lessico comune: diritto e scienza nelle scelte di fine vita

In search of a common language: law and science in end-of-life choices. The life behind words

Abstract

Medical “doing” produces values and problems that go beyond the specific professional and enter society as subjects for reflection and debate. The comparison with other knowledge and the value that the same word can take in different cultural
contexts represents a good opportunity for reflection. We offer some food for thought on some of these words or phrases of medical language: EBM and defensive medicine, patient communication and will, final stages of life and desistance of treatment, DNR, suicide.

Keywords: Guidelines and purpose of the treatments; Defensive medicine; Will of the patient; Desistance of treatment; Suicide