Euthanasia

The principal terms used are ‘euthanasia’ and ‘assisted suicide’. The former is generally understood to be an act or omission that intentionally ends the life of a person ostensibly in order to release him or her from suffering. It should be noted that palliative care, may employ sedation that can, in extreme cases, have the unintended side effect of hastening the natural death of the patient. This is not euthanasia because of the intention behind the act.