According to the Oxford Dictionary, euthanasia is defined as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful illness or an irreversible coma. Proponents argue that this is motivated by kindness and a desire to end suffering. Those who are against euthanasia understand why those in favor of euthanasia say it is acceptable to practice it, but we must understand that euthanasia is against the Hippocratic Oath. According to the Hippocratic Oath, doctors should never “give deadly medicine to anyone who asks for it, and I will make no suggestion to that effect.” Likewise, I will not give a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will keep my life and my art” (par. 4). This oath is taken by all doctors after graduating and before beginning to practice medicine. Regardless of people's religious, ethnic or ideological stance, it is undeniable that doctors bear enormous responsibility when caring for the health and lives of patients. It is paradoxical to allow doctors to kill patients when their primary goal is to prevent or cure disease, and in other cases to save lives. In times of great stress, loved ones of sick patients rely on their doctor without questioning their decisions. This was the case for Dr. Harold Shipman, a man respected by his community and colleagues, until he was convicted of murdering more than 250 people, mostly elderly women. Dr. Harold Shipman would visit his patients' homes and secretly administer an overdose of morphine, then return to his office and alter his patients' medical records to make it appear that they had died of natural causes; a few hours later, his patients would die. At his trial, euthanasia was ruled out because none of the victims had suffered from a terminal illness...... middle of paper ...... tic Oath. " Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries. Springshare, April 3, 2014. Web. April 11, 2014. "Hospice Vs. Palliative Care." Hospice Vs. Palliative Care. FamilyCare America, Inc., nd Web. April 12, 2014. .Ottley, Ted. “Dr. Harold Shipman, the world's most prolific serial killer." Crime Library. Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc., nd Web. April 12, 2014. .Urofsky, Melvin I. and Philip E. Urofsky. "The Current State of the Law in the Netherlands. "Definitions and Moral Perspectives: Death, Euthanasia, Suicide, and Living Wills. Vol. 1. New York: Garland Pub., 1996. 111-12. Print.