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EUTHANASIA - In medicine, a mercy killing of someone with a severe and incurable condition or illness.
Legally a very grey area, however in Australia's Northern Territory a bill was passed in May of 1995 legalizing volountary euthanasia for terminally ill patients. In the Nederlands euthanasia is technically illegal. However, provided guidelines issued by the Royal Dutch Medical Association are followed, doctors are not prossecuted.
A patients right to refuse life saving medicines or opperations is recognised in several countries including the U.K.