sides of the debate and by applying some ethical theories to the problem.
             It comes from the Greek word thanatos meaning death and along with the prefix eu meaning well or easily it can be defined as a gentle or easy death. Euthanasia has also been described as "mercy killing". Euthanasia is "....voluntary death in cases of painful and incurable diseases"(Encyclopedia Britannica). It is "....the act or practice of painlessly putting to death persons suffering from incurable conditions of diseases"(Wolhandler, 1984, p.363).
             Euthanasia has been subdivided into categories in order to aid clarification. It can be divided into voluntary - involuntary and active – passive.
             "Voluntary Euthanasia is euthanasia that is provided to a competent person on his/her informed request. (Non-voluntary euthanasia is the provision of euthanasia to an incompetent person according to a surrogate's decision.) In voluntary euthanasia is euthanasia performed without a competent persons consent"(CEJA, 1992, p.2230). Active euthanasia is the administration of lethal drugs, or the otherwise actual killing of a patient by another person. Passive euthanasia is letting the patient die i.e. no medical interference as such, or the with-drawl of medical assistance. Is there a moral difference between the two? Both cause the death of the patient, on by an action, the other by in-action. The result remains the same in both circumstances there
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