Language Matters: The Semantics and Politics of “Assisted Dying”
Journal
Hastings Center Report
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2024-11-02
Author(s)
Abstract
This essay examines the impact of linguistic choices on the perception and regulation of assisted dying, particularly in Canada. It argues that euphemistic terms like “medical assistance in dying” and its acronym, “MAID,” serve to normalize the practice, potentially obscuring its moral gravity. This contrasts with what is seen in Belgium and the Netherlands, where terms like “euthanasia” are used, as well as in France and the United Kingdom, where terminology remains divisive and contested. By tracing the evolution of these terms and what they reveal about different cultural and legal approaches, this essay sheds light on the politics of language in end-of-life discourses. It suggests that the shift toward euphemistic language reflects a broader discomfort with death that can shape public attitudes and legal frameworks. It calls for a more transparent, philosophically grounded approach to terminology and suggests that continued debate about semantics is necessary to capture the complexities and ethical significance of assisted dying.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
54
Number
5
Start page
3
End page
7
Pages
5
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Contact Email Address
marc.keller@unisg.ch
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
open.access
Name
Hastings Center Report - 2024 - Elsner - Language Matters The Semantics and Politics of Assisted Dying.pdf
Size
124.96 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
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