Definition:
Providing treatment (usually to reduce pain) that has the foreseeable side effect of causing the patient to die sooner.
Providing treatment (usually to reduce pain) that has the foreseeable side effect of causing the patient to die sooner.
The patient dies sooner as a side effect of giving a medical treatment given to relieve pain or improve end-of-life symptoms.
Indirect or passive euthanasia are not prohibited in most countries, while direct or active euthanasia is prohibited; these are considered by some to be incorrect terms because they are not really types of euthanasia.
Related terms: Passive Euthanasia
Sources:
BBC. Religion & Ethics. Ethics of euthanasia. Key terms and definitions. 20 June 2006. 17 December 2006.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/euthanasia/overview/keywords.shtml>
Emanuel EJ. Euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. UpToDate. 11 October 2005. 17 December 2006. <http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=genl_onc/13934>
