What are the countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide are legal? We hope that you aren’t searching this topic for personal reasons, but more out of a simple wish to learn more about certain ethical concepts that are currently in effect in certain parts of the world. Whatever the reason has brought you to this page, we hope that you will find your answer and learn something new.
Before we present you with the list of countries that have no laws against euthanasia or assisted suicide, let us first explain the difference between these two, for some human and for others inhuman, acts. Perhaps you don’t know, but the word euthanasia comes from two Greek words – “eu” meaning good or well, and “thanatos” meaning death. That means that euthanasia can be translated as a “good death” or an “easy death”. And we all know what its basic definition is – it is the deliberate ending of a person’s life with the purpose of relieving that person from further pain and suffering.
Euthanasia can be classified with respect to various aspects – if we classify it regarding the type of the act, we have passive and active euthanasia. On the other hand, if we classify it considering an aspect towards another human being we have voluntary, involuntary and non-voluntary euthanasia. Let’s start by first explaining active and passive euthanasia. As the words denote it – active euthanasia consists of the act of performing a deliberate action that will end a person’s life, for example injecting a lethal shot, whereas passive euthanasia refers to “only” refraining from actions that would keep a person alive, for example not giving food or medicine, or switching off support machines, etc. As for voluntary euthanasia, it is also quite logical what it represents – that the person who is being euthanized has requested it. Non-voluntary – the person has made neither consent nor refusal (a good example is when the person is declared braindead and is in a coma). Finally, involuntary euthanasia is, naturally, euthanasia against person’s will, and is in most cases treated as murder.
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Alright, so we now know all the forms of euthanasia, but what about the definition of assisted suicide? The name, once again, speaks for itself. Assisted suicide is a suicide performed with someone’s help or guidance. Euthanasia is usually done by lethal injection and assisted suicide by prescribed an overdose of medicine, which is one of the easiest painless ways of killing yourselves quickest.
While there are opposite opinions when it comes to questioning whether there is a moral difference between passive and active euthanasia, most of the people will agree that there exist a strong moral difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia; which is exactly the reason why some countries allow only assisted suicide and not both.
Ethical dilemmas concerning euthanasia and assisted suicides are many, and it seems they can never be ultimately resolved, just as most of the other moral questions. Do you have your opinion on this matter? Are you for legalizing euthanasia, or are you against it? You don’t know? Well, don’t worry, you are not the only one. There are many organizations in the world that are fighting for the “people’s right to die with dignity” and there are also many other from the other side, fighting for the opposite. Churches are often the strongest opponents on this matter, they are taking the “other side”, fighting for a God’s will, a God’s choice when someone is going to die. Even though opinions on this matter are divided, it seems that “Churches” are taking the “victory”, as there are only 10 countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide are legal. Only 10 countries in the entire world. But, let’s not take only the official laws into account, we are pretty sure that more assisted suicides and euthanasia are happening all around the world than we are aware of. I guess there is always some way to avoid the law. Taking a stand on this matter should ultimately come from personal experience. How can anyone judge without knowing anything truly about it? About bearing with an incurable and painful disease of a loved one. Let’s just hope none of us will ever have to find out.
We’ve gathered information about countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide are legal from few different websites about euthanasia and assisted suicide, and we used the list available on Wikipedia, but we have also checked this information for each country separately, since these laws often change. Starting first with the countries where assisted suicide is legal to be moving on to countries where active euthanasia is legal, these are the ones we’ve found:
10. Switzerland
It is not quite obvious how Switzerland stands when it comes to assisted suicide as this act is not something that is officially legal, but there is an escape window for those who do it as long as they are not guided by their selfish motives. Yes, you read it right, if a person helps another person to commit suicide and declare to have no selfish motives, they won’t be convicted. This law in Switzerland is very old (1941) and it is therefore made a Switzerland unique country known for “suicide tourism”, since it is the only country in the world that have assisted dying organization called Dignitas that will “help” even foreigners. Even though this may sound morbid, I am sure that there are people who would say that there is nothing morbid about helping someone to relieve their pain. Euthanasia in any form is still illegal here.
9. Germany
In Germany, the situation is similar to the one in Switzerland when it comes to assisted suicide, nobody has been punished for it since 1751. Euthanasia is strictly forbidden, and it probably will stay forbidden for a long time, since it is a topic often connected with the Nazis.
8. Japan
Even though Japan is a world known for its very specific culture and tradition, and everyone knows that it is the country where most suicides happen, Japan still doesn’t have any concrete laws regarding both euthanasia and assisted suicides. There have been both cases on courts, with different rulings. But, what is even more interesting than this is that maybe they have found a way to avoid any law on assisted suicide. Japanese have created a robotic bear that can help people commit suicide. Yes, you read that right.
7. Albania
In this country, there is also a big controversy about the assisted suicide issue, but it seems that is legal that the doctor stops life support for an extremely ill patient.
6. The US
Of course, assisted suicide is not legal in the entire US, it is legal in 5 its states: New Mexico, Oregon, Montana, Vermont, and Washington. Even though laws differ in these five states the main concept stays the same – you can get legal assistance for suicide. If you are interested in learning more about this topic you can watch a movie based on the true story about Doctor Kevorkian, known also as “Dr. Death”, who fought publicly to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide.
5. Canada
In February 2015, Canada removed the federal ban on assisted suicide. However, there are still no legal cases of assisted suicide since need to pass 12-15 months before this decision take effect. While active euthanasia is illegal in Canada, passive euthanasia will not have legal consequences. Canada is also known for an organization called Dying With Dignity Canada.
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4. The Netherlands
This is the first country on our list of 10 countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide are legal, in which both of these acts are in fact legalized. Yes, in 2002 the Dutch people have ruled on their right to choose death. Unlike Canada, where only passive suicide is legal, in the Netherlands active euthanasia and assisted suicide are both legal.
3. Belgium
In the same year as the previous country, on the 28th of May, the Belgian parliament legalized euthanasia; this law applies only when certain conditions are met. There is no law discussing assisted suicide, but doctors can both prescribe an overdose or inject a lethal dose of medicine. Of course, only to its residents.
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2. Colombia
In Colombia, the first legal voluntary euthanasia was done this year, the same year it was legalized. The patient in question was suffering and dying from a throat cancer, and he claimed he was in excruciating pain, he was battling for his right to die, and it seems he has won this battle. Colombia is known as a country that has legalized assisted suicide eight years ago, but no legal procedures were done for a long time because of the government’s delayed regulations.
1. Luxembourg
Luxembourg legalized euthanasia six years ago. Here you have to receive the approval of two doctors and some other experts in order to have the legal option of euthanasia.
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With Luxembourg, this list of countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide are legal ends, for now. We will see if this list will expand in the future. You can notice how most of this countries are the ones with the best standard of living and quality of life. The question is – are there any connections there? Do these countries with the better standard of living have “a higher consciousness”, or their citizens fight easier for their rights? Or is there something third is in the game? Who knows, we just hope that this article has given you at least one new perspective on this serious matter.
