Abstract

The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of original articles focusing on humanization and dignified treatment in healthcare from an ethical and bioethical standpoint, with two specific research objectives: 1. To identify key conceptualizations related to humanization and dignified treatment, taking into account the perspectives of the various stakeholders at contextual, institutional, interpersonal, and personal levels. 2. To propose a relational model that facilitates the visualization of the dimensions, agents, and practices involved in humanization. A systematic search was performed in the Web of Science (WoS) database, following bibliometric procedures and the PRISMA methodology. A total of 8 articles were selected from the WoS indexing categories of Ethics and Religion, published between 2010 and 2022. The analysis revealed that ethics and bioethics play a fundamental role in shaping the discourse on humanization and dignified treatment in healthcare. Key themes included respect for individuals' integrity, relational ethics, associated ethical principles, and concrete institutional practices. The implications of considering ethical notions as foundations for humanization and dignified treatment in healthcare, as well as the proposal of a relational model in humanization applicable to healthcare practices, are discussed.