The Australian state of Victoria has a law allowing physician-assisted suicide, which came into force in June 2019,[8] and Western Australia passed a similar law in December 2019. [9] Medically assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia are illegal in all other Australian states and territories. Although rare, charges have been laid for «aiding and abetting the suicide of others.» [10] It was formerly legal in the Northern Territory under the Terminally Ill Rights Act 1995. In 1997, the Australian federal government flouted Northern Territory legislation by introducing the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997. [11] Unlike states, Northern Territory legislation is not guaranteed by the Australian Constitution. During the brief period when euthanasia was legal in the Northern Territory, Dr. Philip Nitschke three people ended their lives by assisted suicide with his delivery machine. Organisations such as Exit International want the government to bring back the right to euthanasia in Australia. Exit made TV commercials that were banned before they aired in September 2010. [12] Other countries such as Austria, Finland and Norway allow passive euthanasia in strict circumstances where people with an incurable disease may choose not to receive life-prolonging treatments, such as artificial feeding or hydration. «Patients are often at a very advanced stage of their disease, where it is virtually difficult, if not impossible, to drink the deadly drink they must ingest if they choose assisted suicide,» she adds.
«It`s a very bitter tasting drink and it`s quite an effort to drink it to the end,» she added. It could also be an element to consider the act as a medical procedure and therefore prefer a doctor to do the job. Active euthanasia is illegal in the UK. Anyone who assists suicide violates the law and can be found guilty of aiding and abetting suicide or attempted suicide. [106] [107] [108] Between 2003 and 2006, Lord Joffe made four attempts to introduce bills legalizing voluntary euthanasia – all of which were rejected by the British Parliament. [109] Currently, Dr. Nigel Cox is the only British physician convicted of attempted euthanasia. In 1992, he was given a 12-month suspended sentence. [110] Van der Heide stated that, although she could not comment on Pothoven`s case, it was possible for minors over the age of 12 to request euthanasia or assisted suicide in the Netherlands under certain conditions. Active voluntary euthanasia remains illegal, although a caregiver may receive a reduced sentence if they take the life of a person who consents to it. [88] Passive euthanasia is legal.
Euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal in the Netherlands if someone suffers unbearable suffering and there is no chance of it getting better. It is not necessary to be terminally ill and there is no mandatory waiting period. One country that has come very close to legalization is Portugal, with only two presidential vetoes preventing the law from being passed in the Catholic-majority country. Euthanasia is strictly prohibited in Turkey. Assisting a person to commit suicide or suicide shall be punished as complicity in suicide in accordance with Article 84 of the Turkish Penal Code. Subject to active euthanasia, article 81 of the same law stipulates that any person who commits this act is sentenced to life imprisonment and punished for simple murder. Under the Suicide Act 1961, euthanasia and assisted suicide are criminal offences in the United Kingdom. Euthanasia can lead to a charge of murder, and aiding and abetting suicide by aiding or abetting self-recovery is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Palliative sedation, where people can ask to be kept under deep sedation until they die, is allowed in many countries, including the Netherlands and France – is not euthanasia. In the case of passive euthanasia, three conditions must be met: euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal. Euthanasia can lead to a charge of murder and assisted suicide can carry a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.
Patients eligible for active or passive euthanasia in South Korea are reserved for terminally ill patients with no chance of recovery. Patients who have a positive response to medications or who are not in a rapidly deteriorating condition resulting in imminent death may not be eligible. Patients must have confirmation from a licensed physician and physician to die with dignity, and comatose patients must have the consent of both guardians. [102] It is available in a growing number of countries and jurisdictions – but not in the UK, where it is still banned. Assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal for adults in Luxembourg.