Physician Aid in Dying/Physician-Assisted Suicide: Request for physician assisted death (euthanasia) via lethal injection or by lethal prescription. Note: Proponents for legalization of physician aid in dying and physician-assisted suicide state that "this does not constitute euthanasia" even though it is exactly the same as the definition of euthanasia!
Infanticide: Intentially causing the death of a newborn by neglect or a specific action, usually for reasons of mercy and/or "benefit of the family."
Persistent Vegetative State: A form of eyes-open permanent unconsciousness in which the person has periods of wakefulness and physiological sleep/wake cycles, but at no time is the person aware of him/herself or the environment. (American Academy of Neurology January 1989). Note: Many individuals diagnosed as being in a 'persistent vegetative state' are able to follow simple commands and can answer yes and no questions, which obviously disagrees with the diagnostic criteria. This term is demeaning because a person is never a vegetable. It is more accurate to diagnose these persons as being in varying stages of coma.
Terminally ill: A person diagnosed with a life threatening disease that the physician has stated they have six months or less to live, regardless of medical treatment.
Chronically ill: A person with a long term illness or injury which may be disabling but will not necessarily cause his/her death, rather death is usually caused by complications of the illness.
Palliative Care: The care that comforts a person even if it cannot cure him or her. Example: Pain medication administered to an individual with cancer, or oxygen administered to a person to alleviate shortness of breath for a dying person, regardless of the disease process.
Hydration/Nutritional Support: The provision of water and/or food by artificial means for the purpose of sustaining life and maintaining comfort. Note: American Medical Association now describes the tube feeding of people who cannot swallow or feed themselves as medical treatment. Scholl Institute views providing a seriously ill or brain injured person with food and water is basic to all human beings and should be considered ordinary and/or pallitive care.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: The range of interventions that restore heartbeat and maintain blood flow and breathing following a cardiac or respiratory arrest: also known as CPR.
Extraordinary Care: Medical interventions for a person that are beyond ordinary care, are excessively burdensome, and do not offer a reasonable hope of benefit: sometimes called heroic care. Example: For an individual with cancer whose death is imminent CPR may be extraordinary and a request for "No CPR" is not unusual from either the person or the family.
Note: The word person is used for patient, because patients are always people with real lives and feelings who deserve our respect regardless of their abilities, disabilities, and needs.
Recommended reading: The LIFE and DEATH DEBATE - Moral Issues of Our Time, by J.P. Moreland and Norman L. Geisler. An excellent book that looks at both sides of the debate over when life should or should not end.