Submitted by rmfaiver on October 1, 2007

• Category: Philosophy
• Words: 2096
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Euthanasia

Euthanasia and the Elderly


Euthanasia is becoming a common word in today’s society. The word is of Greek origin and literally means “good death.” The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as “the act of killing a person painlessly for reasons of mercy.” Such killing can be done through active means, such as administering a lethal injection, or by passive means, such as withholding food and water.
In recent years there have been numerous cases of “mercy killing” in the news. They usually involve the killing of ill or incapacitated persons by relatives or friends who plead that they can no longer bear to see their loved ones suffer. Although such killings...

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