assisted suicide

noun

plural assisted suicides
: the act of suicide carried out by someone with assistance from another person

Examples of assisted suicide in a Sentence

a doctor who has been involved in several assisted suicides an opponent of assisted suicide
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2002, the Netherlands legalised both assisted suicide and, in a world first, euthanasia. The Week, theweek, 10 Nov. 2024 President of Sarco's operator, assisted suicide organization The Last Resort, Dr Florian Willet, was arrested after the woman's death and remains in custody, along with several others, whilst police investigate what transpired. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024 Now 77, Nitschke first explored the idea of delegating assisted suicide to machines in the 1990s. Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 15 Oct. 2024 There are unresolved controversies: Should assisted suicide be legal as Michigan's Dr. Jack Kevorkian advocated and carried out? Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 28 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for assisted suicide 

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of assisted suicide was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near assisted suicide

Cite this Entry

“Assisted suicide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assisted%20suicide. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

assisted suicide

noun
variants also assisted death
: the act of suicide carried out by someone with assistance from another person
Surveys also show assisted suicides are taking place covertly, often without a doctor's help.Mark O'Keefe, The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, Oregon)
especially : physician-assisted suicide
Six of the 15 patients who chose assisted suicide in the act's first year had to ask more than one doctor before finding a physician who would write a lethal prescription. Barry Siegel, The Los Angeles Times

Legal Definition

assisted suicide

noun
: suicide committed by someone with assistance from another person

More from Merriam-Webster on assisted suicide

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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