ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews legal mechanisms related to end-of-life decisions and emphasizes the moral and ethical principles upon which the laws related to the end of life are based. Euthanasia, the Greek root of which means "easy death", refers to the practice of ending a suffering person's life. Since both active and passive euthanasia result in the patient's death, some observers see no meaningful distinction between the two. For the same reasons that one prepares a will or estate plan, one can prepare an end-of-life directive to make one's wishes concerning one's own end known. In order to execute an informed advance directive, or to have an informed discussion with one's chosen healthcare proxy, the person engaged in advance care planning must understand the medical issues involved. Designating a healthcare power of attorney allows one to maintain control over what happens to one and one's estate even in the event that one loses one's ability to make decisions for oneself.
