Shorten life of incurable patient who is suffering

 Igros Moshe (Choshen Mishpat II #74.2) Question Is there an obligation to treat an incurable patient who will remain in great pain?. Answer We can assume that people prefer to die rather than have a life of suffering so perhaps it is not required to treat him. However the gemora (Avoda Zara 18a) tells about a martyr Rabbi Chanina ben Teradyon) who was being burnt to death and he said it was prohibited to hasten his own death by opening his mouth as this was a form of murder and obviously it is not permitted to hasten another’s death. This that he encouraged the executioner to shorten his life is perhaps he was not concerned that the executioner would commit murder since it would benefit him. It is also possible that there is no prohibition for a goy to kill when it benefits the victim which is not so for a Jew. Perhaps this is reflected in that the non Jew has a different prohibition for killing than the Jew I have discussed this at length because this is a very important issue. And the question arises occassionally. However to actually decide what to do requires very great thought and investigation. Therefore it is necessary to gather as many Torah scholars as possible together with the expert doctors that are available and have hope that G-d will provide the proper understanding in this serious matter.