Definition
Assisted suicide, also known as assisted dying or medical aid in dying, is suicide undertaken with the aid of another person.[1] The term usually refers to physician-assisted suicide (PAS), which is suicide that is assisted by a physician or other healthcare provider. Once it is determined that the person's situation qualifies under the physician-assisted suicide laws for that place, the physician's assistance is usually limited to writing a prescription for a lethal dose of drugs.
In many jurisdictions, helping a person die by suicide is a crime.[2] People who support legalizing physician-assisted suicide want the people who assist in a voluntary death to be exempt from criminal prosecution for manslaughter or similar crimes. Physician-assisted suicide is legal in some countries, under certain circumstances, including Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, parts of the United States and parts of Australia. The Constitutional Courts of Austria, Colombia, Germany and Italy legalized assisted suicide, but their governments have not legislated or regulated the practice yet. The parliament of Portugal passed the legalization of assisted suicide, but is now under consideration of the Constitutional Court.
Assisted suicide, also known as assisted dying or medical aid in dying, is suicide undertaken with the aid of another person.[1] The term usually refers to physician-assisted suicide (PAS), which is suicide that is assisted by a physician or other healthcare provider. Once it is determined that the person's situation qualifies under the physician-assisted suicide laws for that place, the physician's assistance is usually limited to writing a prescription for a lethal dose of drugs.
In many jurisdictions, helping a person die by suicide is a crime.[2] People who support legalizing physician-assisted suicide want the people who assist in a voluntary death to be exempt from criminal prosecution for manslaughter or similar crimes. Physician-assisted suicide is legal in some countries, under certain circumstances, including Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, parts of the United States and parts of Australia. The Constitutional Courts of Austria, Colombia, Germany and Italy legalized assisted suicide, but their governments have not legislated or regulated the practice yet. The parliament of Portugal passed the legalization of assisted suicide, but is now under consideration of the Constitutional Court.