Literally meaning the procuring of an easy and painless death, euthanasia (or ‘mercy killing’) has come to be understood as a deliberate act or omission whose primary intention is to end another person's life. Much debate has centred on whether individuals should be entitled to manage their own death or appoint others to do so for them (voluntary euthanasia). In the UK, killing a person intentionally is a criminal act even if that person consents to the killing. (See also ETHICS; SUICIDE.)