The hidden key. A content analysis to evidence the incommensurable differences in end-of-life decisions between Laic and Catholic bioethics. Analysis of the paradigmatic Italian situation.

Objectives: We consider the End-Of-Life (EOL) management between Laic bioethics (LB) and/or religious [Catholic] bioethics (CB) showing their irreducible differences to underline the impossibility to mediate their principles. Mediation attempts may be used to maintain the supremacy of religious position. To better understand the difficulties in EOL decisions deriving from negation of such differences, we highlight the problem of “ambiguity”, which is considered as a form of contradiction affirming/denying the same sense. The term “irreducible” corresponds to the logic perspective of “tertium non datur”. Texts And Main Outcome Measures: Using this new methodology in the analysis of bioethical problems, we underline the entity of the contraposition. We surveyed the logical structure of the LB and CB principles through quantitative computerized analysis of content on texts that are particularly significant in the two different areas: Catholic vs. Laic positions. Results: The adopted analysis shows what concepts are irreducible in the LB / CB arguments. The method of arguing (deductive in CB vs. inductive in LB texts) is the mainstay of all differences: theonomy vs. automony. The textual analysis confirms our hypothesis, showing the presence of two “irreducible” meaning in the representation of freedom in EOL decisions.