on law tradition has punished or otherwise disapproved of suicide or assisting suicide (History of Euthanasia 1). Nearing the early 19th century the United States adopted strict rules against assisting in suicide and many times those who did assist in one's suicide would be tried for murder. Even prisoners who persuaded another to commit suicide could be tried for murder, even though the victim was scheduled shortly to be executed.
             In October of 1939, during the rage and insanity of the war, Hitler ordered widespread "mercy killing" of the sick and disabled. Code named "Aktion T 4," the Nazi euthanasia program to eliminate "life unworthy of life" at first focused on newborns and very young children. A decision on whether to allow the child to live was then made by three medical expe
             ...