Euthanasia Timeline:
In 1991 initiative 119 was introduced to allow physician-assisted suicide in Washington. Though it failed, this was the first proposed legislation of its kind in the country.
In 2008 voters passed the Death with Dignity Act through Initiative 1000 modeled after Oregon’s Death with Dignity law.
The law allows terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live to request lethal medication from a physician.
In 2023 the law was expanded to allow telemedicine approval of the drugs, shorten the waiting period from 15 days to 7 days, and allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe death drugs.
Hundreds of residents have used the law to end their lives.
Sources:
The Death with Dignity Act Makes Assisted Suicide Legal in Washington
Euthanasia Timeline:
In 1994 Oregon becomes the first state in the country to pass an assisted suicide law, the “Oregon Death with Dignity Act” known also as Measure 16. This allowed terminally ill patients with six months or less to life to request lethal drugs from a physician. Voters passed the measure 51% to 49%.
In 1997 Measure 51 in the state asked voters to repeal the Death with Dignity Act but failed by a vote of 60% to 40%.
In 2019 Oregon removed the waiting period for patients with less than 15 days left to live.
In 2022 a settlement in a federal lawsuit allowed non-residents to access assisted suicide making Oregon the first state to allow euthanasia tourism.
Sources:
Medically Assisted Suicide in Oregon Is No Longer Limited to Residents
Euthanasia Timeline:
In 2008 Baxter v. State of Montana ruled that Montana residents have the legal right to physician assisted suicide legalizing physician aid in dying.
Since then, attempts have been made to specifically prohibit doctor involved death but efforts have failed.
Montana is unique among the states as it has no legislative framework for the application of doctor involved death.
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In 1992 California faced Proposition 161, the first attempt to legalize physician assisted suicide in the state, which failed.
Between 2005 and 2007 legislation titled the California Compassionate Choices Act was unsuccessfully introduced in the state.
Finally in 2015 the California End of Life Option Act was passed and went into effect in 2016 allowing physician assisted suicide.
In 2021 the law was amended to shorten the waiting period from 15 days to only 48 hours.
In 2024 Senate Bill 1196 was proposed which would have allowed for dementia patients and out of state individuals to be killed through assisted suicide. The legislation would have allowed people without a terminal prognosis the ability to request life-ending drugs setting the lowest threshold of any state. The bill has thus far been prevented from passing.
Sources:
California Euthanasia Laws: Assisted Suicide and Patient’s Rights
The “Death with Dignity Act” was introduced in 2003 modeled after Oregon’s law. The bill did not pass.
In 2013 the “Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act” was passed and signed into law by Governor Peter Shumlin in May of 2013.
In 2015 the law’s “sunset provision” was removed by the Vermont legislature removing safeguards such as requiring a second opinion and a waiting period.
In 2023 Vermont removed the residency requirement allowing people from out of state to die there.
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In 2015 the Colorado End-of-Life Options Act was introduced in the state legislature but failed.
In 2016 advocates of assisted suicide turned their attention to ballot initiatives. Proposition 106 was passed as a voter initiative legalizing assisted suicide in the state.
Since being passed into law the waiting period has been cut from 15 days to only 7. In addition, advanced practice registered nurses are allowed to perform assisted suicide, a role previously limited to physicians.
Patients must be 18 or older and a resident of the state with a terminal illness diagnosed by a physician and a prognosis of six months or less to live.
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In 2016 the D.C. Council held a final vote, passing the Death with Dignity Act legalizing assisted suicide.
Despite congressional backlash the law has remained in effect.
Sources:
DC City Council Votes to Allow Physician-Assisted Suicide. That’ll Change Us All, for the Worse.
In 2000 Maine voters rejected Question 1, a proposed ballot initiative that would have legalized assisted suicide.
In 2015 another attempt was made to legalize assisted suicide which failed in the legislature.
In 2017 another failed attempt was made in the Maine legislature.
In 2019 the Maine Death with Dignity Act was passed into law.
Discussion is ongoing about shortening the required waiting period and allowing for telemedicine prescription of the death drugs.
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In 1998 Hawaii convened the Governor’s Blue-Ribbon Panel on Living and Dying with Dignity to study assisted suicide. The panel recommended legalizing physician-assisted suicide.
In 2002 the first legislative attempt to legalize assisted suicide failed.
In 2018 the Our Care, Our Choice Act was successfully passed allowing assisted suicide.
Since then, efforts have begun to expand access and allow for telemedicine application.
Sources:
Hawaii’s Medically Assisted Suicide Program Is Poised To Be Expanded
In 2012 New Jersey lawmakers introduced the Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act in the state legislature. The bill failed to gain support and did not pass.
In 2014 the bill was reintroduced and saw more support but once again failed to pass.
In 2016 the bill was once again introduced but failed.
Finally in 2019 the bill was passed and signed into law officially legalizing assisted suicide in New Jersey.
Efforts are underway to expand into telemedicine prescriptions.
Sources:
N.J. terminally ill patients can now legally end their lives with medical help
Following the push to legalize assisted suicide in other states, New Mexico legalized assisted suicide in 2021. Governor Michelle Grisham signed the “Elizabeth Whitefield End-of-Life Options Act” into law. Terminally ill patients with six months or less to live can request lethal medication.
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Euthanasia Timeline:
After nearly a decade of debate in 2025 Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed into law The End-of-Life Options Act legalizing assisted suicide. The law contains initial safeguards requiring a prognosis of six months or less to live, state residency, and mandatory waiting periods.
Eligible individuals who wish to be killed must request life ending drugs and self-administer.
Sources:
Delaware legalizes physician-assisted suicide
After years of advocacy, Delaware passes End-of-Life Options Law
Euthanasia Timeline:
Suicide was decriminalized in 1972.
In 2014 Quebec legalized euthanasia, physician assisted suicide.
In 2016 C-14 was passed making assisted suicide legal across the country.
In 2020 the federal government introduced Bill c-7 to remove the “reasonably foreseeable death” requirement expanding access to people with serious disabilities or chronic illness, even if they are not terminally ill.
A recent report by the “Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying” in Canada’s parliament has suggested that children whose deaths are “reasonably foreseeable” should also be eligible. This suggestion would allow minors to have the ultimate say in it, not their parents.
Debate is ongoing surrounding the addition of “advance directives” which would allow someone to request MAID in the future should they get a condition like dementia.
Canada Euthanized 15,343 People in 2023.
Sources:
Canadian MPs want assisted suicide for children without parental consent
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
Euthanasia Timeline:
First legalized in the Northern Territory in 1995 before being overturned and made illegal again in 1997.
Years later in 2017 Victoria legalized MAID and “limited euthanasia.”
In 2019 it was legalized in Western Australia.
In 2021, the Tasmanian parliament passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act.
In 2021, South Australia passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act, becoming the fourth Australian jurisdiction to legalize euthanasia.
In 2021, the Queensland government introduced the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, which passed.
Sources:
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
Euthanasia Timeline:
In 2002, Belgium officially legalized euthanasia with the passage of the Euthanasia Act.
The law allows for adults that are experiencing “unbearable physical or psychological suffering” to be euthanized.
Following the legalization of euthanasia calls begin to expand the criteria to include those with conditions like dementia.
In 2014 Belgium amended the law to include minors making it the first country to allow euthanasia without an age requirement.
Sources:
‘Right to die’: Belgium marks two decades since it legalised euthanasia
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
Euthanasia Timeline:
In 1997, the Constitutional Court of Colombia recognized the “right to die with dignity” as part of the right to personal dignity in the Colombian Constitution.
In 2015 the Court issues a landmark ruling allowing for euthanasia in patients with terminal illness.
In 2017 the Department of Health and Social Protection issued “Resolución número 825/2018” allowing children as young as six to be euthanized.
In 2021 the Court expanded euthanasia to patients that do not have terminal conditions.
Sources:
Colombia Euthanasia Legal Situation
Colombia legalizes assisted suicide in historic ruling
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
Euthanasia Timeline:
In 2010 Ecuador classified assisted suicide as a crime.
In 2021 “right to die” advocates began to push for legalized euthanasia but no legislation was successful.
In 2024, Ecuador’s Constitutional Court ruled that active euthanasia is legal for all citizens.
To be eligible an individual must have a serious and incurable illness or a terminal condition. They must be 18 years old and of sound mind. The procedure must be conducted by a physician.
Sources:
Ecuador becomes second Latin American state to decriminalize euthanasia
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
Euthanasia Timeline:
In 2001 discussion began in the Luxembourg parliament about legalizing euthanasia.
In 2008 a euthanasia and assisted suicide bill was passed by parliament, but the Grand Duke refused to sign it.
In 2009 the constitution was amended to limit the Grand Duke’s veto power.
In 2010 their euthanasia law officially came into effect.
Since then, efforts have been made to expand the scope of euthanasia in the country, but they have remained unsuccessful.
Sources:
Euthanasia and assisted suicide in Luxembourg
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
Euthanasia Timeline:
In 1984 the Dutch Supreme Court issued a ruling allowing for legal euthanasia under strict circumstances, thought the practice remained generally illegal.
In 1994 the court ruled to expand the practice of euthanasia to those with mental and physical suffering.
In 2001 The Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act was passed officially legalizing euthanasia.
In 2004 protocol was introduced to allow euthanasia for infants.
In 2020 the Dutch Supreme Court ruled that euthanasia was permissible for patients with advanced dementia if they had an advance request.
In 2023 euthanasia was made legal for children ages 1-12.
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Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
Euthanasia Timeline:
Legislative attempts to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide were introduced, but failed, in 1995, 2003, 2015, and 2017.
In 2020 a national referendum supporting euthanasia and assisted suicide was passed by the people getting 65% of the vote.
Though the law has not been expanded discussions continue about broadening the scope to make more people eligible and include mental health justifications.
Sources:
New Zealand votes to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill patients
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
Euthanasia Timeline:
In 2002 Spain’s parliament debated legalizing euthanasia for the first time but no legislation was advanced.
In 2020 the Spanish government introduced a bill to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide.
In 2021 Spain’s parliament approved the Organic Law for the Regulation of Euthanasia. The law permits euthanasia and assisted dying for patients with terminal or severe, incurable conditions who experience unbearable physical or psychological suffering.
Debate is ongoing to expand the criteria to allow more people to qualify for euthanasia despite not meeting the current requirements.
Sources:
Spain passes law allowing euthanasia
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
Euthanasia Timeline:
In 1942 Switzerland decriminalized assisted suicide. The law had no age limitations and allowed for suicide tourism from other countries.
In 2006 the Swiss Federal Supreme Court ruled that people with severe mental illnesses could be eligible for assisted suicide.
Due to an influx in assisted suicide tourism regulation to limit assisted suicide to only citizens was considered but ultimately rejected in 2009.
In 2011 a national referendum was considered to end assisted suicide for foreigners and to end the practice altogether, but it was once again rejected.
In 2014 it was decided that elderly people who wished to die could receive assisted suicide without a need for any severe illness.
Sources:
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
Euthanasia Timeline:
Germany first implemented euthanasia during Nazi control between 1933 and 1945. During that time, it was used to murder people with disabilities and those the Nazis viewed as undesirable.
Following the horrors of World War 2, euthanasia was widely condemned across Germany.
In in 1990’s global conversation began to increase and debates about legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide expanded.
In 2015 Germany passed a ban on commercial assisted suicide.
In 2020 Germany legalized assisted suicide ruling the 2015 ban unconstitutional. Little has changed since then, though efforts have been made by advocates of assisted suicide to expand the criteria.
In 2021, the German Doctors’ Federation removed the edict, “A doctor may not provide any assistance for suicide,” from its code of conduct.
Sources:
Germany’s top court paves way for assisted suicide
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
In 2020 Austria’s Constitutional Court opened the door to assisted suicide by ruling that the existing laws prohibiting it were unconstitutional.
In 2021 the Austrian Parliament crafted legislation legalizing assisted suicide for adults with terminal or chronic illness.
In 2022 the law went into effect. Since then, pharmacies have begun to give out lethal drugs in approved cases.
Sources:
New law allowing assisted suicide takes effect in Austria
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized
In 2021 Portugal’s Parliament approved a bill which would legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide. This legislation was blocked by the Constitutional Court.
In 2023 Parliament revised the legislation to avoid the criticisms of the Court and passed the legislation overriding the president’s veto.
Sources:
Portugal parliament approves law to legalise euthanasia
History of Medical Aid in Dying
Where assisted dying is legal or in discussion for being legalized