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physician-assisted suicide
noun
: suicide by a patient facilitated by means (such as a drug prescription) or by information (such as an indication of a lethal dosage) provided by a physician aware of the patient's intent
Word History
First Known Use
1987, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of physician-assisted suicide was
in 1987
Dictionary Entries Near physician-assisted suicide
Cite this Entry
“Physician-assisted suicide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physician-assisted%20suicide. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.
Medical Definition
physician-assisted suicide
noun
: suicide by a patient facilitated by means or information (as a drug prescription or indication of the lethal dosage) provided by a physician aware of the patient's intent
Proponents of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide claim that the principle of respect for autonomy requires that patients be allowed to choose the manner of their death.—Robert I. Misbin, The New England Journal of Medicine
Legal Definition
physician-assisted suicide
noun
: suicide by a patient facilitated by means (as a drug prescription) or by information (as an indication of a lethal dosage) provided by a physician who is aware of the patient's intent
Note: In 2007, Oregon became the first state to legalize physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill. A few states have followed.
More from Merriam-Webster on physician-assisted suicide
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for physician-assisted suicide
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about physician-assisted suicide
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