Europe

Assisted dying was legalised by the Austrian parliament in 2022.

Assisted dying is legal for adults who are terminally ill or have a permanent, debilitating condition. Eligible people can get access to life-ending medication which they self administer. Austria’s constitutional court lifted the absolute ban on assisted dying when it ruled that it “violated the right of self-determination”.

Assisted dying was legalised in Belgium in May 2002 by the Belgian Act on Euthanasia.

The law allows adults who are in a ‘futile medical condition of constant and unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be alleviated’ to request voluntary euthanasia.

Germany’s Constitutional Court found that there is a constitutional right to a self-determined death in 2019.

Germany’s Constitutional Court found that a right to a self-determined death is enshrined within its constitution. This includes the freedom to seek and make use of assistance provided by a third party. The Bundestag is drafting legislation to regulate based on the ruling.

Italy’s constitutional court ruled in 2019 that assisting a suicide is not always a crime.

Italy’s constitutional court ruled it was not always a crime to help someone in ‘intolerable suffering’ take their own life. The Italian parliament has debated a bill, but the process of agreeing the legislation is ongoing.

Assisted dying was legalised in Luxembourg in February 2008 when the Luxembourg Parliament approved a Law on the Right to Die with Dignity.

The law allows a person who is suffering unbearably from an illness, and is mentally competent, to request medical assistance to die.

Voluntary euthanasia or assisted dying have been legal in The Netherlands since 2001.

People who have an incurable condition, face unbearable suffering and are mentally competent may be eligible for voluntary euthanasia or assisted dying. The law is available for anyone over 16, with parental consent required for 16 and 17 year olds.

Portugal legalised euthanasia for terminally ill people in great suffering in 2023.

Euthanasia is accessible to mentally competent adults if they are terminally ill and suffering lasting and unbearable pain. The law only applies to Portuguese nationals and legal residents.

Spain passed a law to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide in March 2021.

The law allows adults with serious and incurable diseases that cause unbearable suffering to choose to end their lives. They must be able to give informed consent. The law allows both voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide. The law only applies to Spanish nationals and residents.

Switzerland has allowed assisted suicide since 1942.

Switzerland does not have a specific law legalising assisted dying. Their criminal code outlaws ‘incitement or assistance to suicide from selfish motives’, consequently acts with non-selfish motives remain legal. This includes permitting non Swiss residents to access assistance from a number of organisations set up for that purpose, such as Dignitas. Learn more about Dignitas and assisted dying.

Euthanasia is illegal in all forms. Every person must take the final act themselves.