Abstract
This study examines the ethical and cultural dimensions of voluntary end-of-life practices by comparing the Jain ritual of Sallekhana—a vow of fasting unto death—with contemporary Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) laws. Sallekhana, rooted in Jainism’s principles of non-violence (ahimsa) and spiritual liberation (moksha), frames death as a sacred act of ascetic detachment, where bodily renunciation transcends mere biological existence to affirm the soul’s sovereignty. MAiD, as practiced in secular systems like Canada’s, positions physician-assisted death as a right grounded in individual autonomy, reflecting modern biopolitical governance where life’s boundaries are mediated by institutional authority. Through comparative analysis of doctrinal teachings and legal frameworks, this research interrogates how these models negotiate agency, moral legitimacy, and societal perceptions of a “good death.” Sallekhana is often misconstrued as suicide, obscuring its ritual emphasis on non-violence and communal spirituality. Conversely, MAiD’s procedural pragmatism risks reducing mortality to a transactional choice, raising concerns about equity. Both practices reveal shared struggles to reconcile dignity with mortality’s inherent fragility. This study challenges conventional boundaries between sacred and secular ethics, demonstrating how Sallekhana and MAiD assert distinct visions of agency—one rejecting biopolitical reductionism through spiritual discipline, the other enshrining autonomy within state-regulated systems. By reframing voluntary death as both ritual transcendence and medical right, the research advances critical dialogue on integrating spiritual meaning with equitable care, bridging divides between tradition and progress in global bioethics.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Religious Commonalities and Differences
KEYWORDS
Sallekhana, Medical Aid In Dying, MAID, Bioethics, Voluntary, Death
