Abstract ♦ The aim of the research presented in this paper is to explore the experiences of loss and grief of children growing up in families with addiction, the consequences of growing up with an alcoholic parent, and the experience of bereavement following the death of a parent. In our empirical research, we analyse written accounts of Hungarian individuals with parents affected by alcoholism, with one or both parents deceased and with at least two years having passed since the death. We analysed a total of 78 written accounts using the thematic analysis method, which led to the findings reported in this paper. Our research confirms the importance of reaching out to and helping children growing up in families with addiction as early as possible and accompanying them through the grieving process following the loss of a parent.

Abstract ♦ End-of-life decisions have recently came back into focus in Hungary in connection with the case of Dániel Karsai. In the summer of 2023, Dániel Karsai made an application to the European Court of Human Rights against the Hungarian regulation of assisted suicide. The Court delivered its judgment in the case of Dániel Karsai v. Hungary on 13 June 2024. One of the main questions in the case was whether Hungary violates the right to self-determination through its domestic legislation implementing a general prohibition on assisted suicide. The other question was whether Hungary violates the prohibition of discrimination by not providing for the possibility of accelerated death for patients suffering from a disease for which life-sustaining treatment is not possible due to the nature of the disease, while for terminally ill patients who require life-sustaining treatment, this possibility is provided for by law. This paper presents the decision and reasoning of the European Court of Human Rights.

Abstract ♦ This perspective article explores the emerging field of cyberthanatology, which examines the intersections of death, mourning and digital technologies. Focusing on digital immortality - the preservation and simulation of aspects of human identity through artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and memory uploading - it explores how these innovations challenge traditional understandings of mortality and mourning. Drawing on the philosophical frameworks of thinkers such as Locke, Heidegger and Kierkegaard, the article critically assesses the existential and ethical implications of digitally preserving identities beyond death.
The article also addresses key ethical concerns, including autonomy, privacy and the commodification of grief. Mind-uploading technologies engage with John Locke's theory of personal identity, which links selfhood to the continuity of memory. At the same time, digital platforms aim to preserve this continuity; they raise questions about the authenticity of digitally recreated selves, especially when divorced from embodied consciousness.
In addition, the article highlights the psychological detriments of avoiding acceptance of death through digital interactions. It examines how prolonged reliance on digital memorialisation can disrupt the normal development of grief, leading to complications such as prolonged grief disorder or existential dissonance.
By integrating philosophical analysis with ethical inquiry, this article provides a nuanced understanding of how digital immortality transforms human relationships with mortality, identity and memory. It calls for a careful balance between technological innovation and ethical responsibility, advocating for informed use, transparent consent frameworks, and culturally sensitive applications of digital immortality technologies. This approach ensures that digital tools recognise the complexity of human grief while respecting the deceased's dignity.