Medical developments have increased the possibilities of prolonging the life and managing the symptoms of terminally ill patients (Rietjens, Van der Heide, Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Van der Maas, & Van der Wal, 2006). Prolonging life, however, may not always be the most appropriate goal for patients suffering from incurable diseases, and accelerating death may actually be the desired goal of treatment, for example in the case of euthanasia. Palermo (1995) defined active euthanasia as “the killing of a patient by a doctor who usually believes that the patient is terminally ill and is suffering from excruciating pain.” “Physician-assisted suicide is performed to end the psychological or physiological suffering of a person who wishes to commit suicide” (Worthen & Yeatts, 2000-2001). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay End-of-life decisions, including physician-assisted suicide, have continued to be controversial and have raised many medical, legal, and ethical questions ( Kopp, 2008-2009). There is no middle ground or strong consensus because “euthanasia is seen as both an immoral crime and an act of moral compassion” (Proulx & Jacelon, 2004). Interestingly, as members of the medical profession debate the ethics of assisted suicide, public support for the legalization of assisted suicide has grown (Palermo, 1995). One reason why physicians, relative to the population, are more restrictive may be the liability burden associated with physician-assisted suicide (Lindblad, Lofmark, & Lynoe, 2009). Furthermore, doctors may also have a paternalistic view, not trusting patients to know what is best for them (Lindblad et al., 2009). A common argument against physician-assisted suicide is that it could erode trust in medical services (Lindblad et al., 2009). However, research by Lindblad et al. (2009) found no evidence to support the hypothesis that trust would be jeopardized if physician-assisted suicide were to be legalized. Conversely, actions that emphasize patients' autonomy could result in greater trust in medical services (Lindblad et al., 2009). Another argument against legalizing physician-assisted suicide is that a person seeking help in dying may be suffering from a mental health disorder that may impair their judgment (Werth & Holdwick, 2000). Clinical depression and other mental illnesses are associated with higher rates of suicide, and depression is very common among terminally ill patients (Werth & Holdwick, 2000). The prevalence of suicidal thoughts is higher among cancer patients experiencing emotional distress (Walker et al., 2008). Before considering assisted suicide as an option, mental health professionals should definitely evaluate and provide treatment for any mental disorders present (Werth & Holdwick, 2000). Through their interventions they can contribute to improving the quality of life of the dying person, reducing the risk of suicide and possibly delaying the possibility of euthanasia. (Werth and Holdwick, 2000). In some parts of the world, euthanasia is legal and widely accepted. The Greek roots of euthanasia lead back to its meaning of "good" death (Palermo, 1995). Granda-Cameron & Houldin (2012) suggested that the definition of a good death may vary from person to person. For some, euthanasia is an acceptable option to achieve the desired characteristics of a good death, such as dying painlessly, with dignity, and in control. (Granda-Cameron & Houldin, 2004).