[9급 국가직 영어 2010년 20번]

Euthanasia generally refers to mercy killing, the voluntary ending of the life of someone who is terminally or hopelessly ill. Euthanasia has become a legal, medical and ethical issue over which opinion is divided. Euthanasia can be either active or passive. Active euthanasia means that a physician or other medical personnel takes a deliberate action that will induce death. Passive euthanasia means letting a patient die for lack of treatment or suspending treatment that has begun. A good deal of the controversy about mercy killing stems from the decision-making process. Who decides if a patient is to die? This issue had not been established legally in the United States. The matter is left to state law, which usually allows the physician in charge to suggest the option of death to a patient's relatives, especially if the patient is brain-dead.

The article suggests that euthanasia should be        .