With France preparing to vote on a potential assisted dying bill, several European countries have already established legal frameworks for the practice. These laws generally distinguish between euthanasia, where a professional ends a patient’s life at their request, and assisted suicide, where the patient is provided the means to end their own life.
The Netherlands legalized euthanasia in 2002 under strict oversight, requiring independent medical confirmation of unbearable suffering. This right expanded to children under 12 in 2023. Belgium enacted similar legislation shortly after, eventually becoming the first nation to allow euthanasia for terminally ill minors of any age. Luxembourg followed suit in 2009.
Switzerland maintains a unique position. While euthanasia is prohibited, assisted dying has been permitted since World War II provided there are no selfish motives. Specialized organizations assist patients there, making it a common destination for those seeking such services. Austria legalized assisted dying for the terminally ill in 2021, and Spain introduced a law allowing both euthanasia and assisted suicide in the same year, subject to rigorous evaluation.
Other nations face legislative hurdles. While Slovenia passed a law in 2023, it was later suspended following a public referendum. Portugal decriminalized the practice the same year, but its Constitutional Court subsequently blocked the legislation. In Italy, though the Constitutional Court established guidelines to protect helpers from prosecution in specific cases, a lack of national legislation has stalled progress, leading regions like Tuscany to attempt their own regulatory paths.
In the United Kingdom, the debate remains active. Following the failure of previous legislative attempts in the House of Commons, lawmakers are set to revisit the issue later this year. Meanwhile, pending legislation in Jersey and the Isle of Man awaits royal approval, while Scotland recently rejected a proposal to legalize the practice.
