BETWEEN THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND THE RIGHT TO DIE: DIGNITY, AUTONOMY IN THE OPEN SEA

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the film The Sea Inside (2004), directed by Alejandro Amenábar, which portrays the story of Ramón Sampedro, a quadriplegic man who fights for the right to decide about his own death. Based on this narrative, the paper develops a reflection on the ethical, psychological, and subjective dilemmas involved in the process of dying, especially in contexts of extreme suffering and absence of the possibility of cure. The discussion is grounded in Bioethics and Psychoanalysis, addressing concepts such as euthanasia, dysthanasia, and orthothanasia, as well as the role of the psychologist in palliative care. The analysis shows that human suffering goes beyond the physical dimension, involving emotional, symbolic, and existential aspects, which requires recognition of the subject’s singularity in the process of illness and finitude. In this context, tensions between ethical, social, and legal values are highlighted, especially regarding patient autonomy and the right to decide about one’s own life. It also emphasizes the importance of the psychologist’s role as a mediator of listening and a facilitator in the elaboration of suffering, contributing to more humanized and sensitive care aligned with the patient’s needs. Thus, the film enables a reflection on the meaning of life, freedom, and dignity, highlighting the complexity of decisions involving living and dying.