All of the states require a day waiting period between two oral requests and a two-day waiting period between a final written request and the fulfilling of the prescription. Palliative sedation, in which someone can ask to be deeply sedated until they die, is permitted in France, but assisted dying is not. In April , a proposal to legalise assisted dying for people with incurable diseases was blocked in the French parliament. The law will allow terminally ill people with less than six months to live the opportunity to choose assisted dying if approved by two doctors.
It is expected to come into effect in November Skip to header Skip to main content Skip to footer. In Depth. The countries where euthanasia is legal Currently Reading 1. The pros and cons of legalised assisted dying 3. The countries where euthanasia is legal Currently Reading See all pages.
The ethical arguments and definitions Those in favour of euthanasia or assisted dying say that in a civilised society, people should be able to choose when they are ready to die and should be helped if they are unable to end their lives on their own. The Week Unwrapped: Fashion for rent, a chip shortage and euthanasia The pros and cons of legalised assisted dying Assisted dying bill: MPs reject 'right to die'. Assisted dying can refer to either euthanasia or assisted suicide.
Which countries have legalised euthanasia? Switzerland Probably the first country that comes to mind in relation to assisted dying, Switzerland allows physician-assisted suicide without a minimum age requirement, diagnosis or symptom state. Euthanasia is not legal in the country. Netherlands Euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal in the Netherlands in cases where someone is experiencing unbearable suffering and there is no chance of it improving.
Parental consent is needed for those under Spain In March , Spain made it legal for people to end their own life in some circumstances. March 10, - The California legislature adjourns a special session, paving the way for the End of Life Option Act to take effect on June 9. It takes effect on December 16, The Act goes into effect February 18, The Act goes into effect January 1, May 15, - California's Riverside County Superior Court Judge Daniel Ottolia overturns the state law that allows doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill adult patients.
In his tentative oral ruling, he says it is unconstitutional because the Legislature passed it during a special session convened by Gov. Jerry Brown to address health care-related issues. The state attorney general has five days to file an emergency writ, a type of appeal, to seek a stay and keep the law in place.
May 15, - Judge Ottolia issues an oral ruling in favor of the plaintiffs and ends physician-assisted suicide in the state of California. A motion to vacate the judgment is rejected. Five days later, Ottolia issues his written opinion. In June, the judgment ending physician-assisted suicide is stayed by the appellate court, making it legal in California again, pending further litigation. February 27, - The California Supreme Court affirms the stay issued by the state's Court of Appeals, making the option of aid in dying legal for terminally-ill adults who meet certain qualifications.
It will allow adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live to get a prescription for life-ending medication. The law requires either a psychiatrist or psychologist must determine that the patient has the mental capacity to make the decision. Humane : It is more humane to allow a person with intractable suffering to be allowed to choose to end that suffering.
We already do it : If a beloved pet has intractable suffering, it is seen as an act of kindness to put it to sleep. Why should this kindness be denied to humans? Moral and religious arguments : Several faiths see euthanasia as a form of murder and morally unacceptable. Patient competence : Euthanasia is only voluntary if the patient is mentally competent, with a lucid understanding of available options and consequences and the ability to express that understanding and their wish to terminate their own life.
Determining or defining competence is not straightforward. Guilt : Patients may feel they are a burden on resources and are psychologically pressured into consenting. They may feel that the financial, emotional, and mental burden on their family is too great.
Even if the costs of treatment are provided by the state, there is a risk that hospital personnel may have an economic incentive to encourage euthanasia consent. Mental illness : A person with depression is more likely to ask for assisted suicide, and this can complicate the decision. Slippery slope : There is a risk that physician-assisted suicide will start with those who are terminally ill and wish to die because of intractable suffering, but then begin to include other individuals.
Possible recovery : Very occasionally, a patient recovers, against all the odds. The diagnosis might be wrong. In , researchers published findings of a survey in which they asked people from 74 countries their opinions on physician- assisted suicide. Overall, 65 percent of respondents voted against physician-assisted suicide. In 11 of the 74 countries, the vote was mostly for. In 18 states, the majority were for physician-assisted suicide. These 18 did not include Washington or Oregon.
In , a Gallup poll indicated that 73 percent of respondents were in favor of euthanasia in the U. Among weekly churchgoers, Gallup found that 55 percent were in favor of a doctor ending the life of a patient who is terminally ill, compared with 87 percent of those who do not regularly attend church.
It is also a political issue. In countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide are legal, they are responsible for a total of between 0. There are a number of checks and balances, including that doctors must consult with at least one other, independent doctor on whether patient meets the necessary criteria.
Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada and Colombia also allow both euthanasia and assisted suicide, although there are differences — for example only terminal patients can request it in Colombia, while Belgium has no age restriction for children although they must have a terminal illness. Assisted suicide is more widely available than euthanasia. Laws permitting assisted suicide came into force in the Australian state of Victoria last month. Again, the exact circumstances in which assisted suicide is allowed vary, with some jurisdictions — Oregon and Vermont — only allowing it in the case of terminal illness.
For some places it is permitted not because laws have been passed, but because laws do not prohibit it. For example in Switzerland it is an offence to assist a suicide if it is done with selfish motives. Other countries, including New Zealand , are considering legalising some form of euthanasia. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal. Euthanasia can lead to a murder charge and assisted suicide could result in a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.
That said, anonymous surveys suggest euthanasia does occur in the UK — but it is very rare. A study published in using responses from more than 3, medical professionals suggested 0.
It is not normally illegal for a patient to be given treatment to relieve distress that could indirectly shorten life — but this is not euthanasia. It is already legal in the UK for patients to refuse treatment, even if that could shorten their life, and for medical care to be withdrawn by doctors in certain cases, for example where a patient is in a vegetative state and will not recover sometimes controversially called passive euthanasia.
Total figures from around the world are hard to collate.
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