The term Euthanasia comes from Greek roots, taking the words 'eu', meaning good or good, and 'thanatos', meaning death, to create the term “good death”. (Definition of euthanasia. 2011) The term "euthanasia" is not specifically defined within Australian legislation, however the generalized definition states that euthanasia is the intentional taking of another person's life by direct action or in deprive a person of medical care necessary to preserve life. (Euthanasia: What does it really mean? Date unknown). Linda Jackson (2005) goes on to add that euthanasia can then be further divided into four specific categories: passive voluntary euthanasia, active voluntary euthanasia, passive involuntary euthanasia and active involuntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia will be the specific area we will focus on within this assignment. Passive voluntary euthanasia, as defined by the research paper, Euthanasia – Australian Law in an International Context, 1997, is “when medical treatment is withheld or withheld from a patient at the patient's request, with a view to ending life of the patient". Voluntary active euthanasia, on the other hand, occurs when a patient requests to end his or her life, through the means of medical intervention. Voluntary active euthanasia has had a significant history within Australian law, with the Northern Territory being the first state to pass legislation on the subject. According to Bills Digest 45, the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act of 1995 was passed on May 25, 1995 and finally went into effect on July 1, 1996. As part of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act of 1995, it allowed terminally ill patient to obtain the assistance of a doctor or other qualified medical practitioner to be fully affected by this new "right to die". Euthanasia is an issue so intertwined within human rights and ethics that it cannot be ignored and must be addressed by Australian society. Because the euthanasia debate is made up of many different topics and stakeholders, an issue cannot be addressed and evaluated without consulting the “bigger picture.” Evidently, if euthanasia became legal across Australia, there would be many implications that would follow. First, religious parties would not agree with the decision made and could rally and protest against those hospitals and health centers that acted according to the euthanasia laws. In addition to this, doctors have placed the responsibility to act on these potential laws will have to regain trust between themselves and the patient and also his family.