euthanasia
/ˌjuːθəˈneɪzɪə
/noun [mass noun]
The painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma.Once the disease reaches this stage, euthanasia or mercy killing is the only recourse....
- This separation has not resulted in moral desensitisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia.
- Forty per cent of the doctors said they had been asked by patients to assist in their suicide or in euthanasia.
Synonyms
mercy killing, assisted suicide, physician-assisted suicide;
merciful release, happy release
rare quietus
Origin
Early 17th century (in the sense 'easy death'): from Greek, from eu 'well' + thanatos 'death'.