The dictionary defines euthanasia as an $@#*^%#@#ldquo;act or method of causing death painlessly so as to end suffering: advocated by some as a way to deal with victims of incurable diseases.$@#*^%#@#rdquor; This is something of an over$@#*^%#@#hyphen;simplification, however. The practice of euthanasia has long been a contentious issue and a matter of disputatious debate. Some have termed euthanasia $@#*^%#@#ldquo;mercy killing$@#*^%#@#rdquor; (Vernon 1970: 310), but others have reported that some critics have labeled it as murder (Sanders 1969; Charmaz 1980: 112).