active euthanasia: Taking a deliberate action, such as injecting a lethal drug, to end a person's life for the purpose of relieving suffering. Compare to passive euthanasia.

advance directive: One of several types of legal document that competent adults may use to state their wishes about health care decisions to be made on their behalf if they become incompetent.

Alzheimer's disease: An incurable disease that causes slow destruction of the brain, with loss of memory and mental functions. It usually strikes the elderly.

assisted death: Any form of hastening a person's death, at his or her request, for the purpose of ending suffering, including physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia (in its narrower meaning), and, possibly, ending of life-sustaining medical treatment. Same as euthanasia in its broader meaning.

autonomy: Self-determination or independence; the right to control and make decisions about one's own life.

battery: The crime of touching someone without the...