No one is truly free to live until one is free to die. These were the words of Martin Luther King on the eve of his assassination. This seems to be the spirit behind all those millions of people who support euthanasia.

The word `euthanasia' triggers a spate of controversy worldwide redefining the meaning attributed to it and the context and extent to which it could be legally practicable. The debate on the topic raises a plethora of issues. There are heated debates, some strongly opposing it and some being equally in its favor.

The concept of euthanasia strikes at the very roots of human existence by allowing for the right to end life. Like any other issue, euthanasia too has two sides. The present article explores the gamut of contentions regarding the subject.

The common man's word for `euthanasia' is `mercy killing'. The word euthanasia originated from the Greek language: eu meaning "good" and thanatos meaning "death". One meaning given to the word is "the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the person who dies."¹ That is, the term euthanasia normally implies that the act must be initiated by the person who wishes to commit suicide.