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Euthanasia (from Greek: ευθανασία -ευ, eu, "good", θάνατος, thanatos, "death") is the practice of terminating the life of a person or animal in a presumably painless or minimally painful way, usually by lethal injection. Laws around the world vary greatly with regard to euthanasia and are constantly subject to change as cultural values shift and better palliative care or treatments become available. It is legal in some nations, while in others it may be criminalized. Due to the gravity of the issue, strict restrictions and proceedings are enforced regardless of legal status. Terminology, religions, and laws change over time, geographically and globally, causing a great deal of confusion.