mercy-killing
Ending prolonged suffering
Mercy-killing is the act of ending a life to relieve suffering, typically of someone terminally ill or in unbearable pain.
The term implies compassionate motive but remains controversial—what one person calls mercy-killing another may call murder.
The family debated whether removing life support constituted mercy-killing.
Euthanasia is the clinical synonym.
Deliberate death for relief
- lethal injectionCapital punishment by needle
- terminal illnessIncurable, deadly medical condition
- palliative careRelief-focused medicine for illness
- end-of-lifeNearing death phase
physician-assisted · morphine · sedation · hospice · suffering · incurable · compassionate release · dignified death
Deliberate death for relief
- putting downCriticizing harshly or placing
- lethal doseAmount causing death
- veterinarianDoctor for animals
- old ageAdvanced years of life
suffering animal · terminal diagnosis · injection · animal welfare · quality of life · saying goodbye · cremation · grief
Independent decision-making capacity
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- right to dieFreedom to end suffering
- dignityInnate personal worth
- compassionConcern for others' distress
moral dilemma · sanctity of life · bioethics · slippery slope · voluntary · involuntary · nonvoluntary · quality of life
Making conduct unlawful
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- murder chargeFormal killing accusation
- manslaughterUnlawful killing without forethought
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
legalization · Netherlands · Oregon · Switzerland · jurisdiction · court case · acquittal · sentencing
euthanasia
Deliberate death for relief
- lethal injectionCapital punishment by needle
- terminal illnessIncurable, deadly medical condition
- palliative careRelief-focused medicine for illness
end-of-life · physician-assisted · morphine · sedation · hospice · suffering · incurable · compassionate release · dignified death · life support
euthanasia
Deliberate death for relief
- putting downCriticizing harshly or placing
- lethal doseAmount causing death
- veterinarianDoctor for animals
suffering animal · old age · terminal diagnosis · injection · animal welfare · quality of life · saying goodbye · cremation · grief · rainbow bridge
autonomy
Independent decision-making capacity
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- right to dieFreedom to end suffering
- dignityInnate personal worth
compassion · moral dilemma · sanctity of life · bioethics · slippery slope · voluntary · involuntary · nonvoluntary · quality of life · suffering
criminalization
Making conduct unlawful
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- murder chargeFormal killing accusation
- manslaughterUnlawful killing without forethought
decriminalization · legalization · Netherlands · Oregon · Switzerland · jurisdiction · court case · acquittal · sentencing · criminal defense
mercy-killinglife support
Systems maintaining vital functions
life preservation · life-saving · aggressive treatment · extraordinary measures · resuscitation
kill, mercy, killing, killer, merciful, merciless, mercies, killings, unmerciful