US Woman Dies in Euthanasia Capsule: Several Arrested in Switzerland

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal in a few countries under specific conditions. Here’s an overview of some countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide is legal:

1. The Netherlands

• Legal since: 2002
• Type: Both euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) are legal.
• Requirements: Patients must be experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement. The request must be voluntary, well-considered, and repeated. The procedure must be conducted by a physician, and there are strict review processes in place.

2. Belgium

• Legal since: 2002
• Type: Both euthanasia and PAS are legal.
• Requirements: Similar to the Netherlands, euthanasia is allowed for terminal and non-terminal conditions as long as the patient is suffering unbearably. In 2014, Belgium became the first country to allow euthanasia for minors under strict conditions.

3. Luxembourg

• Legal since: 2009
• Type: Both euthanasia and PAS are legal.
• Requirements: Patients must be suffering from a serious, incurable condition and voluntarily request euthanasia.

4. Canada

• Legal since: 2016 (Medical Assistance in Dying – MAiD)
• Type: Both euthanasia and PAS are legal.
• Requirements: Initially available for those with terminal illnesses, MAiD has since been expanded to include non-terminal cases. Patients must be experiencing intolerable suffering and have a foreseeable natural death.

5. Colombia

• Legal since: 1997 (Court ruling), regulated in 2015
• Type: Euthanasia is legal, but PAS remains illegal.
• Requirements: Euthanasia is permitted for terminally ill adults who are suffering and request the procedure voluntarily.

6. Spain

• Legal since: 2021
• Type: Both euthanasia and PAS are legal.
• Requirements: Patients must have a serious, incurable illness causing unbearable suffering with no chance of recovery. The process includes multiple safeguards.

7. New Zealand

• Legal since: 2021
• Type: Euthanasia (referred to as assisted dying).
• Requirements: Only terminally ill adults with less than six months to live are eligible. The process includes strict oversight.

8. Australia (Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales)

• Legal since: Various dates (starting with Victoria in 2019)
• Type: Assisted dying (euthanasia or assisted suicide depending on the state).
• Requirements: Each state has specific criteria, but generally, euthanasia is allowed for terminally ill adults experiencing unbearable suffering.

9. Switzerland

• Legal since: Decriminalized in the 1940s (Only Assisted Suicide).
• Type: Assisted suicide is legal, but euthanasia is illegal.
• Requirements: There are no specific laws on euthanasia, but assisted suicide is permitted as long as the person providing assistance has no selfish motive. Organizations such as Dignitas and Exit provide these services.

10. Germany

• Legal since: A 2020 court ruling allowed assisted suicide (specific laws are being developed).
• Type: Assisted suicide is legal, but euthanasia remains illegal.
• Requirements: Assistance in suicide is allowed as long as the person is acting autonomously.

11. Austria

• Legal since: 2022
• Type: Assisted suicide is legal.
• Requirements: Patients must be suffering from a terminal or permanent condition that causes unbearable suffering.

Countries with Restricted or Partial Euthanasia Legalization

• United States: Assisted suicide is legal in some states (e.g., Oregon, Washington, California, Vermont, New Jersey, Hawaii, Colorado, New Mexico, Maine, and the District of Columbia). Euthanasia remains illegal across the U.S.

Note:

While these countries have legalized euthanasia or assisted suicide, the legal frameworks and criteria vary widely. Strict safeguards, such as medical consultations and waiting periods, are in place to ensure that the decision is voluntary and well-considered.