Abstract In our days, there is intensive attention to specific end-of-life decisions, and we experience stepwise legalisation in the whole world. This study starts with clarifying the modern terminology and then goes back to ancient times to present how the terms euthanasia and end of-life decisions evolved since ever. After exploring how the concept of euthanasia developed, we outline the beginning of the euthanasia movement and provide an overview of the international perception of accepting end-of-life decisions. Before conclusions  Kulcsszavak: Georg Abraham Mercklin, Lorenz Heister, Vérátömlesztés, levél, Paul Francisci, Kronstadt, Wunsiedel