When a physician administers medication to relieve severe pain in a terminally ill patient, and the medication also hastens the patient's death, the situation is called

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The concept of double effect states that it is permissible to administer medication to relieve severe pain in a terminally ill patient, even if as a side effect it may hasten the patient's death. The key difference between double effect and active euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is the intent behind the action - in double effect, the intent is solely to relieve pain, whereas in active euthanasia/physician-assisted suicide, the intent is to end the patient's life. Passive euthanasia involves withholding or withdrawing treatment, rather than actively administering medication.

When a Physician Administers Medication to Relieve Severe Pain in a Terminally