What is Euthanasia?
'''Euthanasia''' (also called '''assisted dying''') involves purposely ending a person's life because they are suffering from [[disease]], [[disability]], or [[pain]]. This is different from [[assisted suicide]], where one person helps another to [[Suicide|kill themselves]]. Euthanasia can be [[wikt:voluntary|voluntary]], where a person asks for help to end their life. Non-voluntary euthanasia occurs when a person who cannot communicate is killed or allowed to die because others think they are suffering. When a person is killed against their will, and when the goal is not to relieve suffering, the killing is usually called [[murder]]. == Laws == Euthanasia is illegal in most countries. It is allowed in just a few places, like the [[Netherlands]]; [[Belgium]]; [[New Zealand]]; and [[Victoria (state)|Victoria, Australia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-29/euthanasia-passes-parliament-in-victoria/9205472|title=Euthanasia: Victoria becomes the first Australian state to legalise voluntary assisted dying|last=Edwards|first=Jean|date=29 November 2017|work=ABC News|access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=McClure|first=Tess|date=2022-02-09|title=At least 32 people take advantage of New Zealand assisted dying laws in first three months|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/08/at-least-28-people-take-advantage-of-new-zealand-assisted-dying-laws-in-first-three-months|access-date=2024-10-16|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Euthanasia is not legal in the [[United States]]. However, some states (including [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[Oregon]], and [[Montana]]) allow Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAD). In this process, a physician prescribes medication that a person takes in order to end their own life. In most cases, the person takes the medication whenever they choose, without the doctor's assistance. This is different from euthanasia, where a doctor would actually give the lethal medication and take the main role in ending the patient's life. =