According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the definition for euthanasia is "the act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment." Not everybody agrees with this definition. I deeply believe that euthanasia should be a personal choice and not another person's alternative to end one's life, if one is suffering from excruciating pain due to an incurable disease. Some authorities believe euthanasia should not be an option regardless of the situation. While others doubt the actions that are being taking by physicians are valid. Still, many believe that euthanasia should be considered an option as long as it benefits the sufferer. .
The patient has to be suffering from an incurable disease in all cases of euthanasia. Three recognized forms of euthanasia are as follows: passive euthanasia, voluntary active euthanasia, and physician assisted suicide. Passive euthanasia occurs when the life support and medication that's being applied to a patient has been terminated by the attending physician, allowing the patient to die without any additional procedures. In addition, voluntary euthanasia is an intentional intrusion by a family member or a doctor with the purpose of ending a patient's life. Finally, physician assisted suicide is where a physician "helps to bring on the patient's death by providing the means to do it or by giving the necessary information on how to do it, but the patient performs the lethal act". All of the above methods of euthanasia serve the purpose of mercy killing, but one can be very different from another regarding the amount of a physician's involvement. .
Euthanasia, along with abortion and contraception, are considered sins against God and the Church. Pope John Paul II shared his view on the topic of euthanasia in an encyclical letter that he issued at the Vatican in 1995.
