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S4-1 Developments of assisted dying legislations and practices around the world

bmjspcare · 2026-05-26 · canonical JSON source

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While the medical and political debate around assisted dying (AD) remains fierce and unremitting, the legalization of AD has expanded significantly across Europe, the Americas, and Australia. Assisted dying practices—euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, voluntary assisted dying (VAD), and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)—are now legal in more than 30 jurisdictions, giving over 280 million people access to this last-resort medical practice.Most of these AD laws specify that a patient’s request must be voluntary, well-considered, and repeated, and must not result from any external pressure. Furthermore, a request can only be legally granted by a physician when the patient is in a medically futile condition caused by a serious and incurable illness or accident, and is experiencing constant and unbearable suffering that cannot be alleviated.This presentation will begin by outlining key definitions and commonly used terms related to assisted dying. It will then trace the historical development of the growing number of jurisdictions worldwide that have established a legalized system of AD, highlighting both differences and common characteristics among these laws. In addition, the scientific evidence on assisted dying will be reviewed, along with physicians’ attitudes toward these practices. Finally, the presentation will examine the consequences for the health care system and the palliative care sector following the implementation of assisted dying legislation.