Prakash Yedhula
(Lawyer)
10 April 2008
Oregon, the Netherlands and Belgium are the only jurisdictions in the world where laws specifically permit euthanasia or assisted suicide. In February 2008, Luxembourg passed a law to permit euthanasia and assisted suicide. However, the law will not go into effect until additional procedures are completed. Implementation is expected in mid-2008.
Oregon permits assisted suicide.(1) The Netherlands and Belgium permit both euthanasia and assisted suicide. Although euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal in Switzerland, assisted suicide is penalized only if it is carried out "from selfish motives."(2)
In 1995 Australia’s Northern Territory approved a euthanasia bill.(3) It went into effect in 1996 but was overturned by the Australian Parliament in 1997. Also, in 1997, Colombia’s Supreme Court ruled that penalties for mercy killing should be removed.(4) However the ruling does not go into effect until guidelines are approved by the Colombian Congress.
