The primacy of the person is a central tenet of Western civilization. In medicine this person-centred ethic is enshrined in the principle of individual autonomy, by which we understand that each person is free to make decisions and choices based on the values to which he or she is committed. At the societal level this primacy is acknowledged in the recognition of human rights.
Human rights constitute the touchstone of a mature and democratic society.
The recognition of the rights of the most vulnerable members of a particular society is a measure of the degree to which that society has evolved. The value we place on the life of each person has implications for our attitude about our arrival in the world and our departure from it. The latter is the subject of vigorous debate and interest at present, viz. The range of discussion about dying is great, covering issues from personal values and choices to social attitudes and norms. In this debate the absence of a component that addresses the interests of society may be explained by the fact that, until birth, the fetus is not considered an autonomous person and therefore cannot benefit from human rights.