Assisted dying: How laws differ around the world
Summary
About 400 million people live in countries where assisted dying is legal, but the rules are very different in each place. Some countries allow assisted dying only for people who are terminally ill, while others also include people suffering from severe, incurable conditions or disabilities.Key Facts
- Assisted dying laws have been introduced or updated in countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Austria, and France since 2015.
- In the USA, assisted dying is legal in 30 states and Washington DC, starting with Oregon in 1997, which requires patients to be terminally ill and mentally competent.
- In Oregon, 5,520 people have received prescriptions for lethal medication since 1997, and about 3,691 have died using it.
- Most people in Oregon who choose assisted dying have cancer or neurological diseases, and common reasons include loss of independence and dignity.
- Canada expanded its assisted dying law in 2021 to include people with irreversible conditions causing unbearable suffering, not just the terminally ill.
- In Europe, countries like Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Austria, and France allow some form of assisted dying, often for non-terminal conditions.
- Switzerland, since 1942, permits assisted suicide, including for foreigners through organizations like Dignitas.
- Assisted dying laws differ greatly in who can access them and what conditions are covered, reflecting different ethical and legal views worldwide.
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