Page "Euthanasia" Paragraph 7

The third element incorporated into many definitions is that of intentionality – the death must be intended, rather than being accidental, and the intent of the action must be a " merciful death ".

Michael Wreen argued that “ the principal thing that distinguishes euthanasia from intentional killing simpliciter is the agent's motive: it must be a good motive insofar as the good of the person killed is concerned ”, a view mirrored by Heather Draper, who also spoke to the importance of motive, arguing that " the motive forms a crucial part of arguments for euthanasia, because it must be in the best interests of the person on the receiving end.

" Definitions such as that offered by the House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics take this path, where euthanasia is defined as " a deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life, to relieve intractable suffering.

" Beauchamp & Davidson also highlight Baruch Brody's " an act of euthanasia is one in which one person ... ( A ) kills another person ( B ) for the benefit of the second person, who actually does benefit from being killed ".