Coup de grâce

For other uses, see Coup de Grâce (disambiguation).

"Finishing move" redirects here. For the professional wrestling term, see Glossary of professional wrestling terms § finisher.

A coup de grâce (/ˌkuː də ˈɡrɑːs/; French: [ku də ɡʁɑs] ^ⓘ lit. 'blow of mercy') is an act of mercy killing in which a mortally wounded person or animal is fatally struck with a melee weapon or shot with a projectile to kill them quickly and end their suffering, with or without their consent. With animals, it may be done by hunters to animals they have shot which have fallen, but which are still alive or by veterinarians to seriously injured animals which are dying or in pain. With humans, it may be done by a firing squad after a volley of shots at a condemned prisoner, or by soldiers in wartime who have captured a seriously wounded enemy soldier (this may be a war crime).

Yell of Triumph, a painting by Alfred Jacob Miller depicting American Indian hunters gathering around a mortally wounded buffalo, and engaging in a victory shout before administering their coup de grâce to the animal with their bows and arrows.

Animal euthanasia

A captive bolt gun for animal euthanasia

If large animals—such as horses, cattle, and deer are seriously injured, some veterinarians will kill them with firearms. This is a legal animal euthanasia method if performed properly.^[1][2] This may be performed by means of shooting the animal in the forehead with the bullet directed down the spine through the medulla oblongata, resulting in instant death.^[3] The risks are minimal if carried out by skilled personnel in a suitable location, or by using a captive bolt gun.

Firing squad

After Jesuit priest Miguel Agustín Pro was shot by a firing squad in 1927, he was wounded, but still alive, so a soldier shot him point blank as a coup de grâce.

With firing squad executions, in the past, after the squad fired, the squad's officer may have shot the prisoner with a pistol or rifle at point blank if the initial volley turns out not to be immediately fatal.

Seriously wounded prisoners of war

There have been cases where soldiers have shot and killed seriously wounded enemy soldiers who they have captured. ^[4] Their rationale for shooting seriously wounded prisoners of war varies, and may include the desire to end their suffering or revenge. In the 2010s, a soldier giving a coup de grâce to kill an incapacitated or seriously wounded soldier would be a war crime. The laws of war mandate caring for the incapacitated and prohibit mercy killing.^[5]

Figurative use

Its meaning has extended to refer to the final event that causes a figurative death or ending.^[6][7] For example, if a company is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, if an insolvency administrator hastens the process, in order to make the wind-down more orderly, this action may be figuratively referred to as a "coup de grâce" for the company.

See also

• Euthanasia
• Animal euthanasia
• Misericorde