Human autonomy at the end of life : legal boundaries and Christian anthropological perspectives in Slovenia

Ahlin Doljak, Sara (author)

This article examines human autonomy at the end of life through legal, ethical, and Christian anthropological lenses, with a particular focus on recent legislative development in Slovenia. While autonomy is a central principle in bioethics and law, its application to assisted dying raises profound dilemmas concerning the sanctity of life, vulnerability of patients, and risks of abuse. The study employs a multidisciplinary methodology that integrates legal analysis of Slovenian and comparative European frameworks, philosophical theories of autonomy, and Christian anthropological perspectives. Findings reveal that although autonomy empowers terminally ill patients to make decisions regarding their treatment and death, it cannot be regarded as absolute. Safeguards, including stringent eligibility criteria, review mechanisms, and ethical oversight, are essential to prevent coercion and preserve human dignity. From a Christian anthropological standpoint, Christian thought emphasizes compassion, palliative care, and the recognition of life as a divine gift, challenging the legitimacy of assisted dying. The article concludes that a balanced approach acknowledging individual autonomy while ensuring strong legal and ethical boundaries offers the most responsible and humane framework for end-of-life care.

• Language: English
• Keywords: human autonomy, assisted dying, end-of-life ethics, legal regulation, Christian anthropological perspectives
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 15.07.2026
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 153-164
• Numbering: Letn. 86, [št.] 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185492
• UDC: 179.7:342(497.4)(043.2)
• ISSN on article: 0006-5722
• DOI: 10.34291/BV2026/01/Ahlin
• COBISS.SI-ID: 282995715
• Publication date in RUL: 06.08.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bogoslovni vestnik
• Shortened title: Bogosl. vestn.
• Publisher: Bogoslovna akademija, Bogoslovna akademija, Teološka fakulteta v Ljubljani, Teološka fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 0006-5722
• COBISS.SI-ID: 8745472

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Človekova avtonomija ob koncu življenja : pravne meje ter krščansko-antropološke perspektive v Sloveniji

Abstract

Prispevek obravnava človekovo avtonomijo ob koncu življenja skozi pravno, etično in krščansko-antropološko prizmo - in sicer s posebnim poudarkom na nedavnih zakonodajnih spremembah v Sloveniji. Čeprav je v bioetiki in pravu avtonomija osrednje načelo, pa njena uporaba za pomoč pri umiranju odpira globoke dileme glede svetosti življenja, ranljivosti bolnikov in tveganja zlorab. Raziskava uporablja multidisciplinarno metodologijo, ki združuje pravno analizo slovenskih in primerjalnih evropskih ureditev, filozofske teorije avtonomije ter krščansko-antropološke perspektive. Ugotovitve kažejo, da avtonomija terminalno bolnim sicer omogoča odločanje o lastnem zdravljenju in smrti, vendar je ni mogoče razumeti kot absolutno. Varovalni mehanizmi, vključno s strogimi pogoji za upravičenost, revizijskimi postopki in etičnim nadzorom, so za preprečevanje prisile in ohranjanje človeškovega dostojanstva nujni. Pri krščansko-antropološkem vidiku je poudarjeno sočutje, paliativna oskrba ter razumevanje življenja kot božjega daru, ki legitimnost pomoči pri umiranju postavlja pod vprašaj. Članek zaključuje, da uravnotežen pristop, ki priznava posameznikovo avtonomijo in hkrati zagotavlja trdne pravne in etične meje, predstavlja najbolj odgovoren in human okvir za obravnavo konca življenja.

• Keywords: človekova avtonomija, pomoč pri umiranju, etika konca življenja, pravna ureditev, krščansko-antropološke perspektive