Euthanasia

Euthanasia describes the act of killing someone intentionally to avoid them from extreme pain when the suffering experienced by patients with incurable disease (terminal phase cancer, etc.) is difficult or impossible to relieve with palliative care.

Euthanasia is therefore the compete opposite of intensive therapy which involves performing medical procedures with the intention of stubbornly maintaining the life of a person with incurable disease.

Animal euthanasia is common practice whereas human euthanasia is only permitted in some countries, under specific conditions, which do not include France.