Assisted dying around world - 13 countries let terminally ill die with dignity
Dame Esther Rantzen has called for MPs to get a free vote on Britain’s assisted dying rules - as we revealed 71% of Mirror readers want the terminally-ill to be allowed to die with dignity. But those against assisted dying claim it’s a ‘slippery slope’ to non-voluntary euthanasia, puts an extra pressure on doctors and could see some poorer patients feeling pressured to opt for it to lessen the burden on their family. Just 19 countries have made some form of assisted dying legal, meaning dozens are still unsure. So just how are different countries handling the difficult issue?
Netherlands
The first country to legalise medically assisted dying, where it can be shown the patient is experiencing unbearable suffering and making an informed choice. The law includes babies up to the age of one and children over 12, with 12-to- 16-year-olds needing parental consent.
Belgium
Patients experiencing an incurable illness with constant, intolerable suffering have qualified for medically-assisted dying since 2002. Euthanasia for people not terminally ill, such as with dementia or a psychiatric disorder, is also legal, with no age restrictions. Under-18s need parental consent.
Dame Esther Rantzen has been urging MPs to vote on assisted dying (PA)Luxemburg
In 2009, a law on the right to die with dignity came into effect. It allows a person suffering unbearably from an illness, who is mentally competent, to request medical assistance to die.
Colombia
The first Latin American country to decriminalise assisted suicide, it allows doctors to help a seriously ill patient take their own life by consuming a lethal drug. Euthanasia for terminally ill patients has been legal since 2015, with euthanasia permitted for children from 2018. The law was expanded in 2021 to include the “right to dignified death” for qualifying patients who are not terminally ill.
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Canada
The first Commonwealth country to legalise assisted dying. Since 2016, doctors have been able to prescribe drugs for self-administration for adults with a terminal illness. And from 2021 they have been able to administer drugs to patients asking to die with serious and chronic medical conditions, even if they were not life-threatening. A new law due to take effect in March will make assisted dying accessible for people with mental illness.
Australia
Doctors can prescribe drugs to adults for self-administration and administer the drugs where the patient cannot. The person must be over 18 and have a condition causing intolerable suffering and death within a specific period.
Switzerland
A 1942 law allowed assisted suicide if it was not for “selfish” reasons, but guidelines have recently tightened, with the Swiss Medical Association stating “assisted suicide for healthy persons is not medically and ethically justifiable”. Patients must be over 18, able to adminster the dose themselves and not advised by someone trying to pressure or take advantage of them.
US
Medically assisted dying is legal in 10 out of 50 states, plus one district. In Oregon, the Death With Dignity Act was enacted in 1997 making it legal for mentally competent terminally ill adults who are not expected to survive more than six months to have an assisted death. Other states followed.
New Zealand
The End Of Life Choice Act came into effect in 2021 after a referendum, allowing terminally ill mentally competent adults in their final months to ask a medic to help end their lives.
Spain
In 2021 Spain became the fourth country in Europe to legalise euthanasia in some circumstances, passing a law allowing adults with serious incurable diseases causing unbearable suffering to choose to end their lives. There was criticism from far right and religious groups.
Austria
From last year, terminally ill adults or those with permanent debilitating conditions could make provisions for an assisted death. After gaining approval from two doctors and waiting 12 weeks, lethal drugs can be collected from an approved pharmacy after giving notice to a lawyer.
Germany
Active euthanasia is banned but passive euthanasia is a grey area, making it possible in some circumstances to voluntarily end the treatment of patients with an incurable disease or those who have lost hope of survival. In 2020 the Constitutional Court said euthanasia was a human right but recent proposals to change the law have been rejected.
Italy
Carried out its first medically-assisted suicide last year. In 2019 the Constitutional Court deemed assisted suicide permissible when patients in overwhelming pain could make their own decisions but legality remains fraught due to the Roman Catholic Church and many political opponents.
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