euthanasia
... " Todays euthanasia generally refers to mercy killing, the voluntary ending of the life of someone who is terminally or hopelessly ill. Like abortion, euthanasia has become a legal, medical, and ethical issue over which opinion is divided. Euthanasia can be either active or passive. Active euthanasia means that a physician or other medical personnel takes a deliberate action that will induce death, such as administering an overdose of morphine, insulin, or barbiturates, followed by an injection of curare. Passive euthanasia means letting a patient die for lack of treatment, or suspending treatment that has begun. Examples of passive euthanasia include taking patients off a respirator (a breathing apparatus) or removing other life-support systems.