mercy killing
"Mercy killing" is a term often used interchangeably with euthanasia, involving the intentional ending of a life to alleviate suffering.
Definition
C1Medicine
(formal, ethical)The act of intentionally ending the life of a person or animal to relieve severe pain or suffering from an incurable condition.
Example
- The doctor faced a moral dilemma when asked to perform a mercy killing on the terminally ill patient.
C1Law
(formal, legal)The intentional act of causing death to a severely suffering individual, often debated in legal contexts regarding its permissibility.
Example
- Mercy killing remains a contentious issue in many legal systems around the world.
C1Ethics
(philosophical)The deliberate ending of a life to prevent further pain or distress, often viewed as a compassionate act.
Example
- Ethical debates on mercy killing often focus on the balance between compassion and the value of life.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "mercy killing":