EUTHANASIA AND ASSISTED SUICIDE IN PERSONS WITHACQUIREDIMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)

The concept of Euthanasia has been a controversial topic since its inception. Theword 'Euthanasia' is derived from two Greek word, 'Eu' meaning 'good' and 'thanatos' meaning 'death', put together it means 'good death'. Euthanasia has been definedas ‘thebringing about of a gentle and easy death for someone suffering froman incurableandpainful disease or in an irreversible coma’ (Pearsall & Trumble, 1996). Usually, ‘euthanasia’is defined in a broad sense, encompassing all decisions (of doctors or others) intendedtohasten or to bring about the death of a person (by act or omission) in order to prevent or tolimit the suffering of that person (whether or not on his or her request) (Gevers, 1996)