---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no Death with Dignity when…"
description: "\"“There is no Death with Dignity when people choose to die because health care economics and the social services system prevent life with dignity.”\" — M..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/marta-russell-97517_death_there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-peop_3043903.jpg"
---

#  There is no Death with Dignity when people choose to die…

![“There is no Death with Dignity when people choose to die because health care economics and the social services system prevent life with dignity.” quote by Marta Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/marta-russell-97517_death_there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-peop_3043903.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/marta-russell-97517_death_there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-peop_3043903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/marta-russell-97517_death_there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-peop_3043903.jpg)

> ““There is no Death with Dignity when people choose to die because health care economics and the social services system prevent life with dignity.””

Marta Russell

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Choosing death due to economic and social barriers denies dignified living, equating lack of care with loss of dignity

**In simple terms:** Economic constraints can force undignified death, violating dignity

Key Takeaway

Advocate for equitable health systems

Themes

ethics healthcare dignity policy human rights

Mood

somber urgent

Type

death:1 death with dignity:1 dignity:1 health:1 health care:1 life:1 respect:1 life dignity:0 dignity people:0 death dignity:0 prevent life:0

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- patient advocacy
- public health planning

Key Concepts

bioethics social justice health economics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies ensure dignified end‑of‑life care?
- What policies reduce economic barriers to health?

A Different Perspective

Economic pressures can limit personal autonomy

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death with dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-with-dignity/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/)

## Related quotes

> [To each person, their own way of death - with dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/to-each-person-their-own-way-of-death-with-dignity/)

[Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/)

> [Death with dignity is better than life with humiliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-with-dignity-is-better-than-life-with-humiliation/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Imam Hussein Ibn Ali al-Shaheed said: Death with dignity is better than life with humility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/imam-hussein-ibn-ali-al-shaheed-said-death-with-dignity-is-better/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“If the push towards life sustaining technology were balanced with options for comfort care in both medical school training and the healthcare culture, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/if-the-push-towards-life-sustaining-technology-were-balanced-with/)

[Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/)

> [The belief in the probability of death with dignity is our, and society’s, attempt to deal with the reality of what is all too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/the-belief-in-the-probability-of-death-with-dignity-is-our-and/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [I said last year, and I still believe there are the votes in the House to pass Death with Dignity legislation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shap-smith/i-said-last-year-and-i-still-believe-there-are-the-votes-in-the-house/)

Shap Smith

> [I won't live to see the death-with-dignity movement reach critical mass, but I call on you to carry it forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-maynard/i-won-t-live-to-see-the-death-with-dignity-movement-reach-critical/)

[Brittany Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-maynard/)

> ['Death with dignity' is our society's expression of the universal yearning to achieve a graceful triumph over the stark and often repugnant finality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/death-with-dignity-is-our-society-s-expression-of-the-universal/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [Suicide don't prevent life from getting worse it eliminates it from getting any better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/suicide-don-t-prevent-life-from-getting-worse-it-eliminates-it-from/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“We had, like I said before. . .we had to prevent life. We had to kill. It’s as simple as that.” —STEVE MASSOF”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-mcelhinney/we-had-like-i-said-before-we-had-to-prevent-life-we-had-to-kill-it-s/)

[Ann McElhinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-mcelhinney/)

> [Never underestimate the repellent power of a negative mental attitude. It can prevent life's lucky breaks from benefiting you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone/never-underestimate-the-repellent-power-of-a-negative-mental-attitude/)

[W. Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone/)

> [When we recognise that unity of all living things, then at once arises the question - how can we support this life of ours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/when-we-recognise-that-unity-of-all-living-things-then-at-once-arises/)

[Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/)

> [“Because of our interconnectedness we all know that extreme poverty and exclusionary practices are violations against the basic dignity of people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/because-of-our-interconnectedness-we-all-know-that-extreme-poverty/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [And it’s more. It’s about getting past that question of whats wrong with me, to knowing there’s nothing wrong, that you were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/and-it-s-more-it-s-about-getting-past-that-question-of-whats-wrong/)

[Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/)

> [I'm not the only one working for democracy in Burma - there are so many people who have worked for it because they believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/i-m-not-the-only-one-working-for-democracy-in-burma-there-are-so-many/)

[Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/)

## More by Marta Russell

> [ “People with \[Chronic Fatigue\] who kill themselves are the millenium's favorite type of disabled citizens-- those who will walk quietly among the healthy, then… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marta-russell/people-with-chronic-fatigue-who-kill-themselves-are-the-millenium-s/)

Marta Russell

Explore all 2 Marta Russell quotes

## More Death quotes

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/)

[Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/)

> [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/)

J. Anthony Torino

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/)

Alan W. Powers

> [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/)

[Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/)

[Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“There is no Death with Dignity when people choose to die because health care economics and the social services system prevent life with dignity.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marta Russell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marta-russell/there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-people-choose-to-die-because/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marta-russell/there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-people-choose-to-die-because/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/marta-russell-97517_death_there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-peop_3043903.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/marta-russell-97517_death_there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-peop_3043903.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/marta-russell-97517_death_there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-peop_3043903.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is no Death with Dignity when people choose to die because health care economics and the social…” — Marta Russell",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Marta Russell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marta-russell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“There is no Death with Dignity...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marta-russell/there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-people-choose-to-die-because/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marta-russell/there-is-no-death-with-dignity-when-people-choose-to-die-because/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
