The practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. Often called 'mercy killing' when referring to terminally ill patients.
From Greek 'euthanatos' meaning 'good death', combining 'eu' (good, well) and 'thanatos' (death). First used in English in the 1640s by Francis Bacon, though the concept existed in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy.
The term literally means 'good death' in Greek, reflecting ancient philosophical debates about dying with dignity. What's fascinating is that the Greeks distinguished between different types of death, and 'euthanatos' represented the ideal - peaceful, painless, and at the right time.
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