Title: Euthanasia - Wikipedia
Headings: Euthanasia
Euthanasia
Contents
Definition
Classification
Voluntary euthanasia
Non-voluntary euthanasia
Involuntary euthanasia
Passive and active euthanasia
History
Early modern period
Beginnings of the contemporary euthanasia debate
Early euthanasia movement in the United States
1930s in Britain
Nazi Euthanasia Program
1949 New York State Petition for Euthanasia and Catholic opposition
Debate
Legal status
Health professionals' sentiment
Religious views
Christianity
Broadly against
Partially in favor of
Islam
Judaism
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Content: In some countries - such as Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan - support for active euthanasia is almost non-existent. Contents
1 Definition
2 Classification
2.1 Voluntary euthanasia
2.2 Non-voluntary euthanasia
2.3 Involuntary euthanasia
2.4 Passive and active euthanasia
3 History
3.1 Early modern period
3.2 Beginnings of the contemporary euthanasia debate
3.3 Early euthanasia movement in the United States
3.4 1930s in Britain
3.5 Nazi Euthanasia Program
3.6 1949 New York State Petition for Euthanasia and Catholic opposition
4 Debate
5 Legal status
6 Health professionals' sentiment
7 Religious views
7.1 Christianity
7.1.1 Broadly against
7.1.2 Partially in favor of
7.2 Islam
7.3 Judaism
8 See also
9 References
10 Further reading
11 External links
Definition
Like other terms borrowed from history, "euthanasia" has had different meanings depending on usage. The first apparent usage of the term "euthanasia" belongs to the historian Suetonius, who described how the Emperor Augustus, "dying quickly and without suffering in the arms of his wife, Livia, experienced the 'euthanasia' he had wished for." The word "euthanasia" was first used in a medical context by Francis Bacon in the 17th century, to refer to an easy, painless, happy death, during which it was a "physician's responsibility to alleviate the 'physical sufferings' of the body." Bacon referred to an "outward euthanasia"—the term "outward" he used to distinguish from a spiritual concept—the euthanasia "which regards the preparation of the soul." In current usage, euthanasia has been defined as the "painless inducement of a quick death". However, it is argued that this approach fails to properly define euthanasia, as it leaves open a number of possible actions which would meet the requirements of the definition, but would not be seen as euthanasia. In particular, these include situations where a person kills another, painlessly, but for no reason beyond that of personal gain; or accidental deaths that are quick and painless, but not intentional. Another approach incorporates the notion of suffering into the definition.