Assisted Suicide

Top Colombia court allows assisted suicide under doctor supervision

A doctor can help a seriously ill patient take their own life by consuming a lethal drug, without risking going to jail, says constitutional court order.

3D-printed suicide pods become legal in Switzerland to offer peaceful death

The company behind a 3D-printed pod which can help carry out assisted suicide expects it could be used early next year.

Spanish lawmakers approve bill legalising euthanasia

Spain becomes the fourth country in EU to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide for people with serious and incurable or debilitating diseases who want to end their life.

Facebook blocks dying man's planned death broadcast

Alain Cocq had planned to show what he expects will be a painful end to his life, but Facebook blocked his live broadcasts. President Macron has said that French law forbade him for granting Cocq's request for a medically-assisted death.

Paralympic champion Marieke Vervoort ends life by euthanasia

The Paralympic gold medalist was diagnosed with a degenerative muscle disease at age 14 that caused constant pain, paralysis in her legs and left her barely able to sleep. She signed her euthanasia papers back in 2008.

US doctors can now opt out of procedures based on their beliefs

Opponents including the American Medical Association warned the rule allowing doctors and health workers to opt out of procedures such as abortions and sterilisations based on personal codes will marginalise vulnerable patient populations.

Portugal parliament rejects legal euthanasia in divisive vote

Parliament voted down a Socialist bill on medically assisted death based on an informed request by patients suffering from an incurable illness with no expected improvement in sight, in a terminal state or suffering from an incapacitating lesion.

David Goodall ends his life by euthanasia

The 104-year-old Australian scientist who travelled to Switzerland received 15g of Nembutal even as Beethoven's 9th Symphony accompanied the former ecologist as he drifted into final sleep.

Netherlands moves to allow assisted suicide for the elderly

The country was the first in the world to legalise euthanasia for the severely ill. Now, its government wants to broaden the law to older people even if they are not sick.