From the Greek roots path- (feeling, suffering) & -lysis (destruction, dissolving), a term meaning "the destruction of suffering," used in reference to a medical procedure by which a life is intentionally ended.
It was coined by Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a physician who performed (by his count) around 130 physician-assisted suicides.
It was coined by Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a physician who performed (by his count) around 130 physician-assisted suicides.
Did you hear about that CEO whose company went bankrupt? He called Dr. Kevorkian and asked him to do a patholysis procedure because he was too afraid to off himself!
by Brendan Kevorkian, M.D. April 25, 2011
"Patholysis" has been in use for at least a century. I first encountered it in an untitled article in the July 18, 1914 edition of The Christian Science Sentinel, p. 907. The article begins "According to a report" and ends with the phrase "resulting from patholysis."
"It is but just and fitting, moreover, to cite in conclusion the broad and significant fact, supplementing cases of definite antidoting of poison in Christian Science, that in the healing of almost any so-called bodily derangements, Christian Science effectually antidotes poison more or less deadly, resulting from patholysis." (From the article cited above.)
by annieb1012 March 19, 2016