Involuntary euthanasia

Involuntary euthanasia, typically regarded as a type of murder, occurs when euthanasia is performed on a person who would be able to provide informed consent, but does not, either because they do not want to die, or because they were not asked.

Involuntary euthanasia is contrasted with voluntary euthanasia (euthanasia performed with the patient's consent) and non-voluntary euthanasia (when the patient is unable to give informed consent, for example when a patient is comatose or a child). Involuntary euthanasia is widely opposed and is regarded as a crime in all legal jurisdictions. Involuntary euthanasia has been practiced in the past, notably in Nazi Germany, where many of the perpetrators were tried, convicted, and executed following World War II. Reference to it or fear of it is sometimes used as a reason for not changing laws relating to voluntary euthanasia.

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