The intentional act of providing a person with the medical means or the medical knowledge to commit suicide. — Also termed assisted self-determination; (when a doctor provides the means) physician-assisted suicide. Cf. EUTHANASIA. [Cases: Suicide 3. C.J.S. Suicide §§ 8–12.]
decriminalization, n. The legislative act or process of legalizing an illegal act (many doctors seek the decriminalization of euthanasia). Cf. CRIMINALIZATION(1). [Cases: Criminal Law 15. C.J.S. Criminal Law § 29.] — decriminalize, vb.
merits. 1. The elements or grounds of a claim or defense; the substantive considerations to be taken into account in deciding a case, as opposed to extraneous or technical points, esp. of procedure (trial on the merits). 2. EQUITY(3) (on questions of euthanasia, the Supreme Court has begun to concern itself with the merits as
dyathanasia (dI-ath-[schwa]-nay-zh[schwa]), n. The act of permitting death to occur naturally by withholding, terminating, or not offering life-prolonging treatments or intervention. — Also termed passive mercy killing. See EUTHANASIA.