Legislative facts
A plain account of where assisted dying is legal, where it is not, and where change is being argued for. The campaign asks for two things in particular.
What we are fighting for
So that a competent, terminally ill adult can choose a kinder death, and a family can accompany the person they love without fear of prosecution.
What we are fighting for
Most countries here require you to be a resident. We press governments to extend the same dignity to people who must travel, as they do to their own citizens.
| Jurisdiction | Status | What's allowed | Who can access |
|---|---|---|---|
| England & Wales | Under debate | Assisting suicide is a crime | Not available |
| Scotland | Under debate | No statute; bill before Parliament | Not available |
| Northern Ireland | Under debate | Assisting suicide is a crime | Not available |
| Netherlands | Legal | Euthanasia, assisted suicide | Residents only |
| Belgium | Legal | Euthanasia | Residents only |
| Luxembourg | Legal | Euthanasia, assisted suicide | Residents only |
| Spain | Legal | Euthanasia, assisted suicide | Nationals and residents |
| Portugal | Limited / partial | Euthanasia (decriminalised) | Nationals and residents |
| Switzerland | Legal | Assisted suicide | Non-residents may access in principle |
| Canada | Legal | Medical Assistance in Dying | Eligible within Canada |
| New Zealand | Legal | Assisted dying | Citizens and residents only |
| Colombia | Legal | Euthanasia | Residents |
| United States (some states) | Legal | Physician-assisted dying | State residents only |
| Australia (some states) | Legal | Voluntary assisted dying | State residents only |
| Italy | Limited / partial | Assisted suicide (narrow, court ruling) | Not established |
| Germany | Limited / partial | Assisted suicide (regulated, 2024) | Residents |
| Austria | Limited / partial | Assisted suicide (since 2022) | Residents |
| France | Under debate | Bill proposed, not enacted | Not available |
| Ireland | Under debate | Pre-legislative scrutiny | Not available |
Today, no part of the UK allows assisted dying. Helping someone to end their life is a crime; good palliative care and refusing treatment are not.
Assisting or encouraging suicide is a crime under the Suicide Act 1961, carrying up to 14 years' imprisonment. Refusing treatment and good palliative care are lawful; only helping another person to end their life is not.
Suicide Act 1961 (legislation.gov.uk)There is no specific statute on assisted suicide. Helping someone die can be prosecuted under existing law (such as culpable homicide). A committee is scrutinising the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
Scottish Parliament BillsThe Suicide Act 1961 extends to Northern Ireland, so assisting suicide is unlawful on the same basis as England and Wales.
Crown Prosecution ServiceThese countries have enacted laws or binding rulings. Most apply only to their own residents, which is the barrier we are working to lift for non-residents.
Requires a voluntary, well-considered request; unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement; and a second independent medical opinion. Every case is reviewed by a regional committee.
Government of the NetherlandsLawful for adults, and in limited cases for minors, where suffering is constant and cannot be relieved. Multiple medical opinions and advance declaration are required.
Federal Public Service Justice, BelgiumAvailable to adults with a terminal illness or unbearable suffering, made at their repeated request, with medical safeguards.
Chamber of Deputies, LuxembourgOrganic Law 3/2021 allows adults with a serious, incurable illness causing intolerable suffering to request help to die. Conscientious objection by clinicians is protected.
Official State Gazette (BOE)Parliament voted to decriminalise medically assisted death; implementing rules are still being defined, so it is not yet fully in practice everywhere.
Assembly of the Republic, PortugalSwiss Criminal Code Article 115 punishes assisting suicide only for selfish motives, so assisted suicide is otherwise lawful. Some cantons require residence, but Switzerland remains the main route people from abroad have used.
Swiss Criminal Code, Art. 115Available to adults with a grievous and irremediable condition. A 2023 change removed the temporary residency requirement. Eligibility for mental illness alone has been deferred to 2027.
Health Canada — MAIDEnd of Life Choice Act. Adults with a terminal illness expected to die within six months, of sound mind, whose suffering is enduring and relieved only by assisted dying.
Ministry of Health, New ZealandConstitutional Court rulings established a right to die with dignity; the practice is regulated by Ministry of Health Resolution 1216 of 2015.
Constitutional Court of ColombiaLawful in Oregon, Washington, Vermont, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, the District of Columbia, and (by court ruling) Montana. Oregon's Death with Dignity Act is the longest-running model.
Oregon Death with Dignity ActLawful in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales under state laws with eligibility and waiting-period safeguards.
Victoria State GovernmentNot yet, or not fully, lawful. Bills, court rulings and public debate are in motion. Nothing here is enacted unless the card says so plainly.
England & Wales: assisting suicide remains a crime (Suicide Act 1961). A Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is being scrutinised in the House of Commons. Scotland has its own Assisted Dying Bill before Parliament. The Isle of Man and Jersey are progressing their own reforms.
UK Parliament BillsIn 2019 the Constitutional Court (sentenza 242) held that helping a person kept alive by life support, who freely asks to die, is not always a crime, under strict conditions. A 2022 referendum to decriminalise euthanasia and assisted suicide was ruled inadmissible by the Court. Reform remains actively debated.
Constitutional Court of ItalyA bill on 'aide à mourir' was introduced in 2024 to allow assisted dying for adults with a terminal or incurable illness. It had not been enacted at the time of this review.
Assemblée NationaleA 2020 Federal Constitutional Court ruling struck down the blanket ban on assisted suicide. In 2024 the Bundestag passed a framework permitting assisted suicide with safeguards.
German BundestagAdults with a terminal or permanent, incurable illness may obtain assisted suicide after counselling, a medical assessment and a waiting period.
Austrian ParliamentAn Oireachtas committee recommended legalising assisted dying in 2023; a bill is being drafted. Assisting suicide remains illegal.
Houses of the OireachtasAssisted dying
A general term, used here, for a doctor helping a competent, dying adult to end their life at their own request.
Assisted suicide
A person is given the means to end their life, but takes the final act themselves.
Voluntary euthanasia
A doctor administers life-ending treatment at the patient's voluntary request.
Refusal or withdrawal of treatment
Already lawful everywhere on this page, and distinct from assisted dying.
General information, not legal or medical advice. Laws change. Last reviewed October 2026; please check the cited sources before relying on any of it.