|Part of a series on| Euthanasia (from the Greek: εὐθανασία
meaning "good death": εὖ, eu (well or good) + θάνατος, thanatos
(death)) refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life
in order to relieve pain and suffering. There are different
euthanasia laws in each country. The British House of Lords
Select Committee on Medical Ethics defines euthanasia as "a
deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of
ending a life, to relieve intractable suffering". In the
Netherlands, euthanasia is understood as "termination of life by
a doctor at the request of a patient". Euthanasia is categorized
in different ways, which include voluntary, non-voluntary, or
involuntary. Voluntary euthanasia is legal in some countries and
U.S. states. Non-voluntary euthanasia is illegal in all
countries. Involuntary euthanasia is usually considered murder.
Like other terms borrowed from history, "euthanasia" has had
different meanings depending on usage. The first apparent usage
of the term "euthanasia" belongs