The practice of providing large doses of medication to relieve pain even if the unintended effect of such medication may be to hasten death.

a doctrine established by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th Century that an action having two effects, one that is intended and positive and one that is foreseen but negative, is ethically acceptable if the actor intends only the positive effect. The doctrine is often used to describe the impact of administering high doses of morphine or terminal sedation - treatments intended to relieve suffering but that will inevitably hasten death. Since the intention is comfort care, this is not considered euthanasia and is legal across the country.

A doctrine originating in Roman Catholic theology that holds that an evil effect is morally, acceptable provided a proportional good effect will accrue, so long as the evil is not intended.