In the context of contemporary debates on the end of life, this article proposes to refocus reflection on the relational dimension of care. Starting from a fundamental question – who is the other for me? – it develops a theology of the neighbour rooted in the biblical and Christian tradition. The author highlights the primacy of gift and communion over utilitarian or strictly decision-based logics, drawing in particular on the notion of the face and on the paschal mystery. The experience of vulnerability, particularly in illness and in the approach of death, reveals the neighbour as the one who calls for an interior transformation and for a relationship of fraternity. Thus, care is understood not only as a practice, but as a theological place where presence, charity and hope unfold.
The debates in France over end-of-life laws in recent years have brought healthcare providers back to the forefront of deeply intense human, ethical, and spiritual questions. When faced with suffering, dependence, requests to die, or refusals of aggressive medical treatment, this fundamental question inevitably arises: is care? Is it about fulfilling a request, exercising technical skill, or entering into a deeper relationship with the person who is suffering and nearing death?
By seeking to regulate practices, legislative changes risk shifting the focus of care: from the relationship toward individual decision-making, from presence to a “right to,” from the service of life to an illusory and deadly control, from respect for consciences and institutions to a “sneaky totalitarianism1.” They are causing genuine distress, particularly among…