physician-assisted suicide

noun

Definition of physician-assisted suicide

: suicide by a patient facilitated by means (such as a drug prescription) or by information (such as an indication of a lethal dosage) provided by a physician aware of the patient's intent

See physician-assisted suicide defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of physician-assisted suicide

1987

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE Defined for English Language Learners

physician-assisted suicide

noun

Definition of physician-assisted suicide for English Language Learners

: suicide that is done with the help of a doctor

Medical Dictionary

physician-assisted suicide

noun

medical Definition of physician-assisted suicide

: suicide by a patient facilitated by means or information (as a drug prescription or indication of the lethal dosage) provided by a physician aware of the patient's intent

Proponents of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide claim that the principle of respect for autonomy requires that patients be allowed to choose the manner of their death.
—Robert I. Misbin, The New England Journal of Medicine, 31 Oct. 1991

Law Dictionary

physician-assisted suicide

noun

legal Definition of physician-assisted suicide

: suicide by a patient facilitated by means (as a drug prescription) or by information (as an indication of a lethal dosage) provided by a physician who is aware of the patientʼs intent

Note: In 2007, Oregon became the first state to legalize physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill. A few states have followed.