euthanasia

Definition of euthanasia

Etymology

First attested in 1606, from Ancient Greek εὐθανασία (euthanasia), from εὐ- (eu-), "good") + θάνατος (thanatos), "death")

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /juː.θəˈneɪ.ziː.ə/, SAMPA: /ju:.T@"neI.zi:.@/
• (US) IPA: /juːθəˈneɪʒə/, SAMPA: /%ju:T@"neIZ@/
• Audio (US) ^[?]

Noun

euthanasia (usually uncountable; plural euthanasias)

1. The practice of killing a human being or animal for humane reasons, especially one suffering greatly or experiencing poor quality of life.
   
   Euthanasia is the most difficult part of a veterinarian's job.
   
   
2. (archaic) An easy death, or the means to bring about such a death.
   
   * 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Folio Society 2008, p. 273:
   For myself I could hold it in my account with God to find such an euthanasia for you, even at this moment if it were best.

Synonyms

• mercy-killing

Derived terms

• euthanise/euthanize
• euthanatise/euthanatize

Further reading

Euthanasia (from the Greek ευθανασία meaning "good death": ευ-, eu- (well or good) + θάνατος, thanatos (death)) refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. According to the House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics, the precise definition of euthanasia is "a deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life, to relieve intractable suffering".

Classification of euthanasia

• Voluntary euthanasia
  Euthanasia conducted with consent is termed voluntary euthanasia.
• Involuntary euthanasia
  Euthanasia conducted without consent is termed involuntary euthanasia. Involuntary euthanasia is conducted where an individual makes a decision for another person incapable of doing so.

Active or passive

Both voluntary and involuntary euthanasia can be conducted passively or actively. A number of authors consider these terms to be misleading and unhelpful.

• passive euthanasia
• active euthanasia