Euthanasia The purpose of this essay is to inform readers clearly and coherently enough about the terms and issues of the euthanasia debate to allow them to make sense of the issue of euthanasia. The descriptions are in relatively simple, non-technical language to facilitate learning. The definition of euthanasia is simple: "Easy and painless death." But the concept of euthanasia proposed by adherents of the euthanasia movement is complex and has profound consequences for everyone. Since the topic involves the discipline of medicine (diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, medical ethics, and so on) as well as the discipline of law, the general public will have difficulty understanding it without some knowledge of these subjects. Let's start by defining terms:* Euthanasia: Traditionally, an easy and painless death. It now means “mercy killing,” “assisted suicide,” or “involuntary euthanasia.”* Voluntary euthanasia: Death administered to those who request it. In practice, requests for truly voluntary euthanasia can be very rare, as the patient rarely gives informed consent because the presumed consent is influenced by depression, improperly treated pain, or other factors that are not controlled but could be controlled.* Involuntary euthanasia: Death administered without the recipient's consent, commonly known as "mercy killing," as in the case of children or incapacitated adults.* Active, direct, or positive euthanasia: Direct killing of the patient by administration of lethal drugs or other direct means to end life, or by denying or withdrawing ordinary means of sustenance such as food and water, protection from exposure, and so on.* Passive, indirect, or negative euthanasia: ambiguous. It can be the decision of the patient, the parent or guardian, and the doctor to refuse or withdraw extraordinary means to sustain or prolong life, such as deciding against a high-risk surgery for a patient who is dying of cancer or kidney failure. When the intent is not to cause death but rather to refuse extraordinary treatment, this results in the acceptance of death or continued life no matter what, but is not true euthanasia. The terms “passive”, “indirect” or “negative euthanasia” should not be used as they play into the hands of euthanasia advocates by confusing legitimate actions with euthanasia, thus desensitizing people to the fact that euthanasia kills. More importantly, passive euthanasia is sometimes defined by others as the withdrawal of life-saving treatment with the intention and result of causing the patient's death. This is equivalent to active and direct euthanasia.