The legal regulations regarding euthanasia vary significantly across Europe. Below is an overview of the legal situation in selected countries:
Belgium: Active euthanasia has been legal since 2002 and was extended to minors without an age limit in 2014. The condition is that doctors certify unbearable suffering.
Denmark: Active euthanasia and assisted suicide are prohibited. Passive euthanasia has been allowed since 1992; patients can exclude life-prolonging measures with a written declaration.
Germany: Active euthanasia is prohibited and punishable by up to five years in prison. Passive euthanasia is allowed if the patient’s will or a valid advance directive exists.
France: Active euthanasia is prohibited. Passive euthanasia is allowed; at the patient’s request, medical treatment can be discontinued, even if it accelerates death.
Luxembourg: Active euthanasia has been legal since 2009. A doctor may help terminally ill patients end their lives at their request, provided two doctors independently confirm that recovery is impossible.
Netherlands: Active euthanasia has been legal since 2002. Terminally ill patients can access euthanasia under strict conditions.
Austria: Active euthanasia is prohibited and punishable by up to five years in prison. Passive euthanasia is allowed if the patient’s will or a valid advance directive exists. Assisted suicide was legalised in 2022, following a strict process and emphasizing the individual’s autonomy in the decision-making process.
Switzerland: Active euthanasia is prohibited. Assisted suicide is allowed, provided there are no selfish motives. Organizations like Exit and Dignitas support terminally ill individuals in their suicide.
Spain: Active euthanasia and assisted suicide have been legal since 2021. People with Spanish citizenship or residence in Spain can apply for euthanasia under certain conditions.
Poland: All forms of euthanasia, including passive euthanasia and assisted suicide, are prohibited.
While there is no legislation allowing assisted suicide in Germany and Italy recent decisions from the respective High Courts may lead to new legislation in the future.
In Luxembourg about 0.7% of non-violent deaths were due to euthanasia or assisted suicide. Legalization happened around the year 2000 for Belgium and Switzerland with rates of 2,3% and 1,7% respectively. Same goes for the Netherlands but with already 4,6% of non-violent deaths being attributed to assisted suicide or euthanasia. The death rates appear to be steadily rising everywhere it is permitted inside of Europe as well as outside.