Non-voluntary euthanasia is described as

• A. Euthanasia performed when patients are not competent to choose for themselves and have not previously disclosed their preferences
• B. Euthanasia performed with a patient's explicit consent
• C. Euthanasia performed when patient is not present
• D. Euthanasia performed after the patient dies

Answer: (A)

Non-voluntary euthanasia is defined by a lack of patient capacity to consent and no previously stated preferences guiding the decision. In this situation, life-ending action is taken by others without the patient’s explicit consent, based on interpreting what would be in the patient’s best interests or using surrogates. This is different from voluntary euthanasia, where the patient explicitly approves the act, and from involuntary euthanasia, where the patient would object or has expressed opposition. The key idea is that the patient cannot participate in the decision and there is no known directive from them. The other scenarios—consent given, the patient not present, or ending life after death—do not define non-voluntary euthanasia.