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Worldwide possibilities for aid in dying

An excel-overview of laws, lawsuits and law proposals concerning end of life options worldwide, can be found here.

Aid in Dying (see the definition here) is legally allowed in the following jurisdictions: 

  1. Germany (1871) – Assisting in suicide is allowed when done by an individual but prohibited when it is done by an organisation that has the intention to organise repeatedly assisted suicide, as a profession. 
    In 2020 the Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) declared the German ban on professional assisted suicide unconstitutional. 
  2. Switzerland (1937) – Assisted suicide is, as long as it is not done by selfish motives, just not prohibited by the criminal law of 1937.  
  3. Colombia (1997-lawsuit): Euthanasia is, under conditions, not punishable. Assisted suicide is, strange enough, still forbidden.
  4. VS-Oregon (1997-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  5. The Netherlands (2001-law): As well euthanasia as assisted suicide are, under conditions and done by a physician, allowed.
  6. Belgium (2002-law): As well euthanasia as assisted suicide are, under conditions and done by a physician, allowed.
  7. Luxembourg (2009-law): As well euthanasia as assisted suicide are, under conditions and done by a physician, allowed.
  8. VS-Washington (2009-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  9. VS-Montana (2009-lawsuit): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, not punishable.
  10. VS-Vermont (2013-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  11. Canada (2016-law): As well euthanasia as assisted suicide are, under conditions and done by a physician, allowed.
  12. VS-California (2016-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  13. VS-Colorado (2016-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  14. VS-District of Colombia (2017-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed.   
  15. AUS-Victoria (2017-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  16. VS-Hawaii (2019-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  17. VS-New Jersey (2019-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  18. VS-Maine (2019-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  19. AUS-Western Australia (2019-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  20. AUS-Tasmania (2021-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  21. AUS-South Australia (2021-act): Assisted suicide is, under conditions, allowed. 
  22. Spain (2021-law): As well euthanasia as assisted suicide are, under conditions and done by a physician, allowed.

 

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World Map
Aid in dying allowed
Aid in dying not allowed
Legal developments
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AMERICA

Argentina
Brazil
Canada
– Quebec
Chile
Colombia
Falkland Islands
Mexico
United States
Uruguay

AFRICA

South Africa

EUROPE

Albania
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
– Scotland
– Northern Ireland
– England
– Wales

ASIA

China
Hong Kong
Israel
Japan
Taiwan

Oceania

Australia
New Zealand