How does the word "mercitron" sound? Maybe a toy, or maybe some kind of machine. In reality, the Mercitron, an invention of euthanasia advocate Jack Kevorkian, allowed a patient to self-administer a lethal dose of drugs with the click of a button (“Suicide”). Euthanasia, from the Greek “good death”, is the act of painlessly causing the death of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or in an irreversible coma (“Euthanasia”. World). There are many classifications of euthanasia, some legal in some places, while others are not. People against euthanasia use different arguments against it, such as religious beliefs and the history of its use by the Nazis, while supporters reason with opinions in its favor. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide both contain a strong element of questionable medical ethics and are subject to societal criticism, although many people support them regardless. The classification of euthanasia differs drastically depending on the patient's situation, leading to the presence of various forms (“Euthanasia”. Problems). For example, active euthanasia occurs when a doctor takes an action to end a life, while passive euthanasia occurs through the omission of a life-saving action (Encyclopedia). Indirect euthanasia, or physician-assisted suicide, occurs when a patient takes the step that induces death. On the contrary, it is the doctor who causes death during direct euthanasia. This is further divided into three categories: voluntary, involving patient consent, non-voluntary, involving euthanasia of a patient deemed incapable of making a decision due to mental illness or coma, and involuntary, involving euthanasia of a patient regardless of his decision. (“Euthanasia”. Problems). Ultimately, euthanasia div...... middle of paper......." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. January 25, 2012."Euthanasia." ProCon.org, 2011 . Web. 6 February 2012. "Euthanasia." Gale, 2007. Gale Student Resources In Context 6 February 2012. "Jack Kevorkian." *L, 2011. Gale Student Resources In Context Web, 6 February 2012. doctor." Gale Encyclopedia of Everyday Law. Ed. Jeffrey Wilson. 2nd ed. vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 831-834. Gale Student Resources in Context. Network. February 6, 2012. Powell, Robert. " Euthanasia." The Robert Powell Center for Medical Ethics. Np, 2007. Web. 6 February 2012. "Suicide, Euthanasia, and Physician-Assisted Suicide." Death and Dying: End-of-Life Controversies. Sandra M. Alter. 2010 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Information Plus Reference Series. Gale Student Resources in Context. January 25. 2012.