Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering, [1] while assisted suicide, also known as physician-assisted suicide, is suicide committed with the aid of a physician. Assisted suicide is often confused with euthanasia. In cases of euthanasia the physician administers the means of death, usually a lethal drug. In assisted suicide, it is required that the person voluntarily expresses their wish to die, and also makes a request for medication for the purpose of ending their life. Assisted suicide thus involves a person’s self-administration of deadly drugs that are supplied by a doctor. [2] The legality of euthanasia and assisted suicide varies. Involuntary euthanasia is illegal in all countries. Active non-voluntary euthanasia (patient's consent unavailable) is illegal in all countries, though in the Netherlands the Groningen Protocol allows exemptions from prosecution in strict circumstances. Passive non-voluntary euthanasia (withholding life support) is either legal or not legislated in most countries.
Voluntary euthanasia is legal in Belgium, [3] Canada, [4] Colombia, [5] Ecuador, [6] Luxembourg, [7] the Netherlands, [8] New Zealand, [9] Portugal [10] and Spain. [11] It is also legal in all states and territories of Australia except the Northern Territory (where it was briefly legal from 1996–1997), [12] and in the United States jurisdictions of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington State and Washington DC. Assisted suicide is legal in Austria, [13] [14] Belgium, [15] Canada, [16] Luxembourg, [17] the Netherlands, [18] New Zealand, [19] Spain [20] and Switzerland. [21]
This list contains notable people who have died via either legal voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide. The criterion for notability is an article on the individual in the English Wikipedia.
Name | Born | Died | Nationality | Place of death | Profession | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daniel Kahneman | 1934 | 2024 | Israeli-American | Switzerland | Psychologist and nobel laureate | [22] |
Dries van Agt | 1931 | 2024 | Dutch | Netherlands | Politician, diplomat and head of government | [23] |
René Auberjonois | 1940 | 2019 | American | United States | Actor and director | [24] |
Arthur Black | 1943 | 2018 | Canadian | Canada | Broadcaster and author | [25] |
Denis Berthiaume | 1969 | 2022 | Canadian | Canada | Academic and researcher | [26] |
Edward Brongersma | 1911 | 1998 | Dutch | Netherlands | Politician | [27] |
Michèle Causse | 1936 | 2010 | French | Switzerland | Theorist, translator and author | [28] |
Hugo Claus | 1929 | 2008 | Belgian | Belgium | Author | [29] |
Fu Da-ren | 1933 | 2018 | Taiwanese | Switzerland | Television presenter | [30] |
Christian de Duve | 1917 | 2013 | Belgian | Belgium | Cytologist and biochemist | [31] |
Fleur van Dooren | 1989 | 2024 | Dutch | Netherlands | Field hockey player | [32] |
Edward Downes | 1924 | 2009 | English | Switzerland | Conductor | [33] |
Ana Estrada | 1976 | 2024 | Peruvian | Peru [a] | Psychologist | [34] |
Anton Fier | 1956 | 2022 | American | Switzerland | Drummer, composer and bandleader | [35] |
Mark Fleischman | 1940 | 2022 | American | Switzerland | Businessman | [36] |
Herbert Fux | 1927 | 2007 | Austrian | Switzerland | Actor and politician | [37] |
Jean-Luc Godard | 1930 | 2022 | French-Swiss | Switzerland | Film director, screenwriter and film critic | [38] |
David Goodall | 1914 | 2018 | Australian | Switzerland | Botanist and ecologist | [39] |
Paulette Guinchard-Kunstler | 1949 | 2021 | French | Switzerland | Politician | [40] |
John Hicklenton | 1967 | 2010 | British | Switzerland | Comics artist | [41] |
Pieter Hintjens | 1962 | 2016 | Belgian | Belgium | Software developer | [42] |
Willem Jewett | 1963 | 2022 | American | United States | Politician | [43] |
W. P. Kinsella | 1935 | 2016 | Canadian | Canada | Writer | [44] |
Friedhelm Konietzka | 1938 | 2012 | German | Switzerland | Football striker and manager | [45] |
Andrée Lachapelle | 1931 | 2019 | Canadian | Canada | Actress | [46] |
Ruud Lubbers | 1939 | 2018 | Dutch | Netherlands | Politician, diplomat and head of government | [47] |
Margaret Lyons | 1923 | 2019 | Canadian | Canada | Radio executive | [48] |
Pierre Mailloux | 1949 | 2024 | Canadian | Canada | Psychiatrist, talk show host | [49] |
Wilfried Martens | 1936 | 2013 | Belgian | Belgium | Politician | [50] |
Brittany Maynard | 1984 | 2014 | American | United States | Teacher | [51] |
Chaïm Nissim | 1949 | 2017 | Israeli | Switzerland | Activist, militant and politician | [52] |
Mort Ransen | 1933 | 2021 | Canadian | Canada | Director and screenwriter | [53] |
Elisabeth Rivers-Bulkeley | 1924 | 2006 | Austrian | Switzerland | Stockbroker | [54] |
Matthijs Röling | 1943 | 2024 | Dutch | Netherlands | Painter | [55] |
Pete Sutherland | 1951 | 2022 | American | United States | Folk musician | [56] |
Adi Talmor | 1953 | 2011 | Israeli | Switzerland | Journalist and news presenter | [57] |
Bea Van der Maat | 1960 | 2023 | Belgian | Belgium | Singer | [58] |
Etienne Vermeersch | 1934 | 2019 | Belgian | Belgium | Philosopher | [59] |
Marieke Vervoort | 1979 | 2019 | Belgian | Belgium | Paralympic athlete | [60] |
Norah Vincent | 1968 | 2022 | American | Switzerland | Writer and journalist | [61] |
Pamela Weston | 1921 | 2009 | English | Switzerland | Clarinetist, teacher and writer | [62] |
Rogi Wieg | 1962 | 2015 | Dutch | Netherlands | Poet, novelist and musician | [63] |