... give an example, end stage cancer or even Down syndrome is an incurable disease. Euthanasia is divided into voluntary, non-voluntary, involuntary and active or passive euthanasia, depending on the act, i.e. how the patient's life is terminated. Voluntary euthanasia is said to occur when a patient's life is ended at his or her request. Non-voluntary euthanasia refers to terminating a patient's life that is not able to give consent, for example a patient with severe life threatening brain damage. If a patient's life is terminated against his or her will, then it is said to be involuntary euthanasia, which also refers to murder (Kerridge, Lowe and McPhee, 1998). The terms active and passive euthanasia are somehow controversial. Active euthanasia is brought about when a patient receives a lethal treatment, which leads directly to his or her death. Passive euthanasia therefore is brought about when life-sustaining treatment is withheld or withdrawn ...

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