Euthanasia
Euthanasia The origins of the word ‘euthanasia’ can be traced back to two Greek words, ‘eu’, meaning ‘well’ and ‘thanatos’ meaning ‘death’. ... In other words, euthanasia represents the principle of mercy killing. Euthanasia is divisible into four different categories. The first is suicide, which is self-administered Euthanasia. ... Voluntary euthanasia is the name given to the action that takes place at the request of an individual who wishes to die, but is incapable of doing so. ... There is also what is described as involuntary euthanasia. ... In the case of involuntary euthanasia the individual is still able to ask to die but has not done so. ... The forth type of euthanasia is non-voluntary euthanasia is the killing of someone who is not in a position to ask to live or die, take the case of Tony Bland for example, a victim of the Hillsborough tragedy, which left him in a coma. ... It is possible to differentiate aspects of euthanasia even further, drawing a distinction between ‘passive’ and ‘active’ euthanasia. Active euthanasia involves an action taken with the intention of ending a life, for example administering a lethal dose of poison. On the other hand passive euthanasia involves allowing someone to die by the deprivation of treatment.