This term have been defined in a number of ways:
- dying accompanied by respectful and skillful caregiving
- a death that is largely free from dependency of psychological affronts that are not usually perceived as dignified
- to those who stress autonomy, it refers to laws and practices that permit a competent terminally ill adult the right to request and receive physician aid-in-dying under carefully defined circumstances.

Field MJ and Cassel CK. Approaching Death: Improving Care at the End of Life. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1997.