Authors

Marta Durán Escribano

Position

Profesora Titular del Departamento de Enfermería. Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid.

Contact address

C/ Huerta de la Sacedilla, 5, 1. 28220 Madrid.

Contact email: marta.duram@uah.es

Abstract

There are several facts around the care culture that constitutes the base of human dignity. Therefore, they define caretaking in its moral dimension. To integrate this condition in the act of caretaking means that every action we perform when taking care of someone implies the acceptance of values that dignify the human action of caretaking. When facing the patient’s physical pain, the patient’s family, the nurses or the carers have to configure the nature and comprehension of self-care in the patient’s mind. This needs to be done according to the patient’s values and beliefs, both from a functional point of view to reduce physical pain, and from an internal point of view, which implies the personal concept of self-care. Hence, the personal perception of self-care determines the patient’s autonomy to fulfil his/her own most basic and private needs. In this way, keeping in mind the complexity of human beings and their dignity, patient caretaking takes a more human approach.

 

Keywords:

ethic; pain; dignity; humanismknowledge

Versión en Español

Título:

La dimensión ética del dolor humano