Hakkin rai shine imani cewa mutum yana da ikon rayuwa kuma, musamman, bai kamata a kashe shi ta wata ƙungiya ciki har da gwamnati ba. Manufar 'yancin rayuwa ta taso ne a cikin muhawara kan batutuwan hukuncin kisa, yaki, zubar da ciki, euthanasia, cin zarafin' yan sanda, kisan kai mai adalci, da kuma hakkin dabbobi. Mutane da yawa na iya yin sabani kan waɗanne fannoni wannan ƙa'idar ta shafi, gami da irin waɗannan batutuwa da aka ambata a baya. Ana amfani da kalmar "haƙƙin rai" a cikin mahawarar zubar da ciki daga waɗanda suke son kawo ƙarshen al'adar zubar da ciki, ko aƙalla rage yawan aikin, kuma a cikin yanayin ciki, Paparoma Pius XII ne ya gabatar da kalmar zuwa rayuwa yayin wani papal na 1951: Kowane ɗan adam, ko da ɗan cikin da yake ciki, yana da 'yancin rayuwa kai tsaye daga Allah ba daga iyayensa ba, ba daga wata al'umma ko hukuma ba.