euthanasia
The painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma.
Distinguished into 'active' (giving a lethal injection) and 'passive' (withholding life-sustaining treatment).
Word relationships
- assisted dying: Assisted dying often refers specifically to a patient self-administering medication provided by a doctor, while euthanasia can involve the doctor administering it.
Commonly confused with
- palliative care: Palliative care focuses on relieving pain and symptoms without intentionally ending life; euthanasia intentionally ends life to relieve pain.
Word family
- euthanize (verb): To subject to euthanasia.
Collocations
- voluntary euthanasia
- active euthanasia
- passive euthanasia
Idioms & expressions
- mercy killing
Example sentences
- "The country's high court is currently debating whether to legalize voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill patients." Legal debate.
- "Some countries permit euthanasia only under strict conditions requiring approval from multiple independent physicians." Historical medical ethics.
Memory hook
Eu (Good) + Thanatos (Death, like Thanos from Marvel). A 'good' death. A good death.
When not to use
Avoid using it for animals in a professional medical context unless specifically discussing veterinary ethics; 'putting down' or 'euthanizing' is common for pets, but the ethical debate of 'euthanasia' usually refers to humans.
Fun facts
- The Greek god Thanatos was the personification of death, but he was often depicted as a peaceful, winged youth, unlike the modern 'Grim Reaper'.
Explore more words
palliative, capital punishment, homicide, sedation, lethal, anesthesia
Also appears in
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