Euthanasia and where we stand (Jan 2021)

Quite difficult to get up to date information on the current debate

This, as far as I can tell is the current state of affairs

Portugal

Portugal’s parliament passed a law on Friday 29^th January 2021 to legalize euthanasia, pending approval by the country’s recently re-elected president.   The bill would legalize doctor-assisted suicide for Portuguese adults in situations of “extreme suffering and irreversible damage.”

Netherlands

In 2002, the Netherlands became the first country to legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia, but only in specific circumstances, including that the patient’s request is made in full consciousness

Belgium

Belgium followed suit in the same year and legalised voluntary euthanasia, but the law doesn’t cover assisted suicide. This was extended in 2014 to terminally ill children suffering beyond medical help

United States

Oregon was the first US state to legalise assisted suicide in 1997 for terminally ill patients, who can request a lethal prescription. Since then Washington and Vermont have followed suit, while courts in Montana and New Mexico ruled in favour of assisted suicide

Switzerland

Home to the Dignitas clinic, Switzerland generally permits assisted suicide if motives are honourable, but voluntary euthanasia is not permitted: it is illegal for a doctor to prescribe and administer a lethal drug

Germany

The law is similar to Switzerland, but assisted suicide is only legal if a lethal dose is taken with no help from anyone else –  e.g. guiding a hand

United Kingdom

In a free vote in the Commons on 11 September 2015, MPs rejected enshrining the right to die in British law. 330 MPs were against and 118 in favour of plans to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives with medical supervision

Colombia

Colombia became the first Latin American country and one of several countries worldwide to legalize assisted suicide in 1997. But the government delayed approving regulations until April, and no legal procedures were performed until July 2o15

Canada

On 17 June 2016, a bill to legally allow assisted suicide within Canada became law after it passed both houses of the Parliament of Canada and received Royal Assent.

Luxemburg

The country’s parliament passed a bill legalizing euthanasia on 20 February 2008