passive euthanasia
Withholding life support
Passive euthanasia is allowing death to occur by withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, rather than actively causing death.
A doctor who discontinues a ventilator or forgoes resuscitation practices passive euthanasia.
The distinction from active euthanasia—administering a lethal agent—matters legally and ethically, though critics argue the line is artificial: Is removing a feeding tube really different from giving a fatal injection?
Documented future healthcare preferences
- living willPre-stated medical treatment preferences
- patient autonomyRight to decide treatment
- informed consentPermission given with understanding
- right to dieFreedom to end suffering
bioethics · medical ethics · healthcare proxy · non-maleficence · sanctity of life · quality of life · ethical dilemma · competency
Relief-focused medicine for illness
- hospiceTerminal illness comfort program
- terminal illnessIncurable, deadly medical condition
- comfort careSymptom relief, not cure
- end-stageFinal, irreversible phase
final days · morphine drip · pain management · death with dignity · natural death · peaceful death · dying process · end-of-life care
Ceasing medical treatment intentionally
- DNREnd-of-life medical directive
- do not resuscitateOrder refusing emergency revival
- non-interventionPolicy of staying uninvolved
Doctor helps patient die
- assisted dyingMedically supported chosen death
- mercy killingPainless death for suffering
advance directive
Documented future healthcare preferences
- living willPre-stated medical treatment preferences
- patient autonomyRight to decide treatment
- informed consentPermission given with understanding
right to die · bioethics · medical ethics · healthcare proxy · non-maleficence · sanctity of life · quality of life · ethical dilemma · competency · legal precedent
palliative care
Relief-focused medicine for illness
- hospiceTerminal illness comfort program
- terminal illnessIncurable, deadly medical condition
- comfort careSymptom relief, not cure
end-stage · final days · morphine drip · pain management · death with dignity · natural death · peaceful death · dying process · end-of-life care · deathbed
withdrawal of care
Ceasing medical treatment intentionally
- DNREnd-of-life medical directive
- do not resuscitateOrder refusing emergency revival
- non-interventionPolicy of staying uninvolved
physician-assisted suicide
Doctor helps patient die
- assisted dyingMedically supported chosen death
- mercy killingPainless death for suffering
- euthanasiaassisted suicide, assisted dying, aid in dying, physician-assisted death, mercy killing
- End-of-Lifeadvance directive, DNR, do not resuscitate, hospice, life support
passive euthanasiaactive euthanasia
Deliberately causing patient's death
lethal injection · physician-assisted suicide · assisted suicide · mercy killing
passive euthanasiaaggressive treatment
Forceful medical intervention
life support · resuscitation · extraordinary measures · full code · intensive care
passive, passively, passiveness, passivity, passion, impassive, impassively, euthanasia