Euthanasia: Countries around the world that practise it legally

On March 9, 2018, The Supreme Court of India has given legal sanction to passive euthanasia in a landmark verdict, permitting 'living will' by patients on withdrawing medical support if they slip into an irreversible coma.

See how other countries have legislated on the issue.

Netherlands

This was the first country to have legalised euthanasia. In the April 2002, the country imposed a strict set of conditions along with legalising the mercy killing.

Conditions for mercy killing are-: If the patient suffers unbearable pain that is incurable, the patient must demand euthenesia in "full consciousness".

In the year 2010,  3,136 people were given a lethal cocktail under medical supervision.

France

In 2005 Leonetti law introduced the concept of the right to be "left to die". Under this law, the doctor decides to stop any treatment if they feel the treatment is of no use. In 2015, the government has refused to go further and allow full euthanasia, or assisted suicide, despite the huge public support.

United States

Giving lethal doses to prescribe lethal doses of medicine to terminally ill patients in five US states. Oregon was the first US state to legalise assisted suicide, Washington state approved a measure that was modeled on Oregon's law and other states like Montana and New Mexico did the same.

Washington in 2009, Vermont in 2013, California in 2015 and Colorado in 2016. 

 In 2013, nearly 300 terminally ill Americans were prescribed lethal medications and died as a result of taking them.

Germany and Switzerland

The term 'euthanasia' isn't pronounced in Germany as it is thought to have an association with the eugenicist policies of the Nazi era. So, in German-speaking countries, this is called assisted suicide.

Like other countries mentioned above, they too have a doctor prescribing and handing over a lethal drug.

In Germany, assisted suicide is legal as long as the lethal drug is taken without any help, such as someone guiding or supporting the patient's hand. 

Belgium

This law was passed in 2002. This was the second country in the world to do so. According to the law, doctors can help patients to end their lives if they demand it. Besides, if a patient seeks euthanasia before entering a vegetative state.

This February 2016, year Belgium became the first country to legalise euthanasia for children.

Also Read: 35-year-old seeks 'euthanasia' from Prime Minister Modi