Pitanja prava na život i poimanje smrti odraz su društvenih vrijednosti, uvriježenih stavova i dominantnih vjerskih opredjeljenja koja su obilježila pojedine etape ljudskog razvoja kroz povijest. Mada pojedine zemlje danas prihvaćaju i odobravaju eutanaziju i/ili medicinski potpomognuto samoubojstvo kao ustoličeno suvereno pravo, ovi postupci i dalje spadaju među najkontroverznija pravna i (bio)etička pitanja te potiču žustre rasprave. Međutim, rasprave o njima nisu novost, budući da su eutanazija i (potpomognuto) samoubojstvo prisutni od pamtivijeka, a temelje se na postavkama različitih promišljanja i poimanja vrijednosti ljudskog života, patnje, ali i prava na (dostojanstvenu) smrt. Cilj rada je raspraviti temu eutanazije kroz povijesnu anamnezu. Geneza ovog fenomena pomaže nam u razumijevanju okolnosti koje su pridonijele njegovu prihvaćanju, ali i žustrom protivljenju i to od antike pa do suvremenog doba. The issues of the right to life and the concept of death reflect social values, established attitudes, and dominant religious beliefs that have marked certain stages of human development throughout history. Although some countries today accept and approve euthanasia and/or assisted suicide as an enthroned sovereign right, these procedures are still among the most controversial legal and (bio)ethical issues and current debates. However, discussions about these issues are nothing new since euthanasia and assisted suicide have been present forever and are based on the assumptions of different reflections and understandings of the value of human life, suffering, and the right to a (dignified) death. This paper aims to discuss the subject of euthanasia and assisted suicide through a historical anamnesis. The genesis of this phenomenon helps us understand the circumstances that contributed to acceptance, as well as the vigorous opposition from ancient times to the modern age.