In what countries is assisted dying legal or under review?

More countries are granting more people the right to die

Illustration featuring a world map and detail of a hospital patient holding the hand of a medical professional
A handful of countries have opted to allow assisted dying, while others are discussing its legalization.
(Image credit: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Getty Images)

Assisted dying can take two forms. Assisted suicide, or physician-assisted death, is when a "physician provid[es] a patient who requests aid-in-dying a prescription that the patient can self-administer to end his or her life," said the National Institute of Health. Physician-assisted suicide is different from physician-administered suicide, also called euthanasia, when the doctor can administer the prescription themselves. Assisted dying usually applies to patients suffering terminal illnesses who choose to die more peacefully. The practice is hotly contested and is still illegal in most of the world. However, a handful of countries have opted to allow the practice ,and others are discussing its legalization. 

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Devika Rao, The Week US

 Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.