Final answer:
The medical term for one person killing another is euthanasia, which can be active or passive and is a subject of ethical debate in the medical field.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical term that describes the act of one person killing another is euthanasia. Euthanasia is classified as either active or passive, depending on whether a medical intervention directly causes death or if treatment is withheld, allowing a person to die naturally. This term is particularly relevant in discussions about the ethical responsibilities of physicians and the rights of patients. While active euthanasia involves a physician directly performing an act that results in a patient's death, such as administering a lethal dose of medication, passive euthanasia might involve withdrawing life-sustaining treatment with the knowledge that this will likely lead to the patient's death.
Physician-assisted (PAS) is another related term where a physician provides a patient with the means to end their own life, typically through a prescription for a lethal dose of drugs. This practice is different from euthanasia as the patient must perform the final act themselves. The ethical considerations regarding both euthanasia and PAS involve debates over the wrongness of killing, the physician's role, and potential slippery slopes in their practice.