physician-assisted suicide

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

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Dictionary Entries near physician-assisted suicide

physician

physician's assistant

physician assistant

physician-assisted suicide

physicianer

physicianless

physicianly

Statistics for physician-assisted suicide

Cite this Entry

“Physician-assisted suicide.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physician-assisted%20suicide. Accessed 29 January 2020.

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More Definitions for physician-assisted suicide

physician-assisted suicide

noun

English Language Learners Definition of physician-assisted suicide

chiefly US : suicide that is done with the help of a doctor

See the full definition for physician-assisted suicide in the English Language Learners 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

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 patient's intent

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