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Simple English definitions for legal terms
euthanasia
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A quick definition of euthanasia:
Term: Euthanasia
Definition: Euthanasia is when someone who is very sick and in a lot of pain is helped to die peacefully. It is different from assisted suicide, which is when a doctor helps someone end their own life. Euthanasia is mostly done for animals, but in some places, it is allowed for people who are very sick and suffering. The person can choose to end their own life, or if they can't make the decision, someone else can make it for them.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Euthanasia, also known as mercy killing, is the act of ending the life of a person who is terminally ill and suffering from pain. It is different from assisted suicide, which is when a doctor helps a person end their own life. Euthanasia is more commonly used for sick or injured animals, as it is illegal in most parts of the United States for humans. Currently, only a few places in the US allow euthanasia for humans, including Oregon, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Washington, Maine, Colorado, New Jersey, California, and Vermont.
Euthanasia can be voluntary or non-voluntary. In voluntary cases, the person who is suffering consents to the ending of their life. In non-voluntary cases, the person is unable to make the decision, so a guardian or family member makes the decision for them. For example, if a person is in a coma and cannot make a decision about whether to stay on life support, their family may decide to end their life.
One example of euthanasia is when a veterinarian puts a sick or injured animal to sleep to end their suffering. Another example is when a person with a terminal illness decides to end their life with the help of a doctor in a place where euthanasia is legal. These examples illustrate the definition of euthanasia because they both involve ending the life of someone or something who is suffering and cannot be helped.