Active Euthanasia: an Historical Survey of its Conceptual Origins and Introduction Into Medical Thought

This paper illustrates the circumstances by which the concept of euthanasia entered into medical thought in the late 19th century, putting the emphasis on what has come to be called ÒactiveÓ euthanasia. Open consideration of active euthanasia began outside of the medical field & gradually became a topic of controversy among physicians. An investigation of several factors that are believed to cause the open discussion of active euthanasia is included. (LC)