List of deaths from legal euthanasia and assisted suicide

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. Non-voluntary euthanasia (patient's consent unavailable) and involuntary euthanasia is illegal in all countries. Voluntary euthanasia is legal in Botswana, Belgium,[3] Canada,[4] Colombia,[5] Luxembourg,[6] the Netherlands,[7] New Zealand,[8] Portugal[9] and Spain,[10] and was previously legal in the Northern Territory.[11] It is also legal in all Australian states, and in the US jurisdictions of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington State and Washington DC. Assisted suicide is legal in Austria,[12][13] Belgium,[14] Canada,[15] Luxembourg,[16] the Netherlands,[17] New Zealand,[18] Spain[19] and Switzerland.[20]

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.
Dries van Agt 1931 2024 Dutch Netherlands Politician and diplomat [21]
René Auberjonois 1940 2019 American United States Actor and director [22]
Arthur Black 1943 2018 Canadian Canada Broadcaster and author [23]
Denis Berthiaume 1969 2022 Canadian Canada Academic and researcher [24]
Edward Brongersma 1911 1998 Dutch Netherlands Politician [25]
Michèle Causse 1936 2010 French Switzerland Theorist, translator and author [26]
Hugo Claus 1929 2008 Belgian Belgium Author [27]
Fu Da-ren 1933 2018 Taiwanese Switzerland Television presenter [28]
Christian de Duve 1917 2013 Belgian Belgium Cytologist and biochemist [29]
Fleur van Dooren 1989 2024 Dutch Netherlands Field hockey player [30]
Edward Downes 1924 2009 English Switzerland Conductor [31]
Ana Estrada 1976 2024 Peruvian Peru[a] Psychologist [32]
Anton Fier 1956 2022 American Switzerland Drummer, composer and bandleader [33]
Mark Fleischman 1940 2022 American Switzerland Businessman [34]
Herbert Fux 1927 2007 Austrian Switzerland Actor and politician [35]
Jean-Luc Godard 1930 2022 French-Swiss Switzerland Film director, screenwriter and film critic [36]
David Goodall 1914 2018 Australian Switzerland Botanist and ecologist [37]
Paulette Guinchard-Kunstler 1949 2021 French Switzerland Politician [38]
John Hicklenton 1967 2010 British Switzerland Comics artist [39]
Pieter Hintjens 1962 2016 Belgian Belgium Software developer [40]
Willem Jewett 1963 2022 American United States Politician [41]
W. P. Kinsella 1935 2016 Canadian Canada Writer [42]
Friedhelm Konietzka 1938 2012 German Switzerland Football striker and manager [43]
Andrée Lachapelle 1931 2019 Canadian Canada Actress [44]
Margaret Lyons 1923 2019 Canadian Canada Radio executive [45]
Pierre Mailloux 1949 2024 Canadian Canada Psychiatrist, talk show host [46]
Wilfried Martens 1936 2013 Belgian Belgium Politician [47]
Brittany Maynard 1984 2014 American United States Teacher [48]
Chaïm Nissim 1949 2017 Israeli Switzerland Activist, militant and politician [49]
Mort Ransen 1933 2021 Canadian Canada Director and screenwriter [50]
Elisabeth Rivers-Bulkeley 1924 2006 Austrian Switzerland Stockbroker [51]
Pete Sutherland 1951 2022 American United States Folk musician [52]
Adi Talmor 1953 2011 Israeli Switzerland Journalist and news presenter [53]
Marieke Vervoort 1979 2019 Belgian Belgium Paralympic athlete [54]
Norah Vincent 1968 2022 American Switzerland Writer and journalist [55]
Pamela Weston 1921 2009 English Switzerland Clarinetist, teacher and writer [56]
Rogi Wieg 1962 2015 Dutch Netherlands Poet, novelist and musician [57]
  1. ^ While euthanasia is illegal in Peru, an exception was made for Estrada in 2022.[32]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Harris, NM. (Oct 2001). "The euthanasia debate". J R Army Med Corps. 147 (3): 367–70. doi:10.1136/jramc-147-03-22. PMID 11766225.
  2. ^ Materstvedt, LJ; Kaasa, S (2002). "Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in Scandinavia Ð with a conceptual suggestion regarding international research in relation to the phenomena". Palliative Medicine. 16: 19.
  3. ^ Adams M, Nys H (2003). "Comparative reflections on the Belgian Euthanasia Act 2002". Med Law Rev. 11 (3): 353–76. doi:10.1093/medlaw/11.3.353. PMID 16733879.
  4. ^ "Canada's parliament passes assisted suicide bill". BBC News. June 18, 2016. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  5. ^ "Euthanasia regularly practiced in Colombia". NBC News. July 31, 2005. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  6. ^ Julien Ponthus (February 20, 2008). "Luxembourg parliament adopts euthanasia law". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  7. ^ Janssen, André (2002). "The New Regulation of Voluntary Euthanasia and Medically Assisted Suicide in the Netherlands". Int J Law Policy Family. 16 (2): 260–269. doi:10.1093/lawfam/16.2.260. PMID 16848072.
  8. ^ "New Zealand Voluntary Euthanasia Law Comes into Effect". Voice of America. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "Portuguese parliament legalises euthanasia after long battle". The Guardian. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Spain passes law allowing euthanasia". BBC News. March 18, 2021. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Brooks, Sally (May 25, 2015). "Euthanasia advocates call for change 20 years after Northern Territory Parliament passed historic laws". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  12. ^ "G 139/2019-71. 11. Dezember 2020" (PDF) (in German). Verfassungsgerichtshof. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "Sterbeverfügungsgesetz; Suchtmittelgesetz, Strafgesetzbuch, Änderung". parlament.gv.at (in German). Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  14. ^ "28 MEI 2002. — Wet betreffende de euthanasie / 28 MAI 2002. — Loi relative a' l'euthanasie" (PDF) (in Dutch and French). Belgisch Staatsblad / Moniteur Belge. June 22, 2002. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "Bill C-14. An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying". parl.ca. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  16. ^ "Legislation reglementant les soins palliatifs ainsi que l'euthanasie et l'assistance au suicide" (PDF) (in French). Journal Officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. March 16, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  17. ^ "Wet toetsing levensbeëindiging op verzoek en hulp bij zelfdoding". overheid.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2021-12-17. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  18. ^ "End of Life Choice Act". health.govt.nz. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  19. ^ "Ley Orgánica 3/2021, de 24 de marzo, de regulación de la eutanasia". boe.es (in Spanish). March 25, 2021. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  20. ^ Bondolfi, Sibilla (July 24, 2020). "Why assisted suicide is 'normal' in Switzerland". swissinfo.ch. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  21. ^ "Van Agt en vrouw kozen voor euthanasie, steeds meer stellen maken die keuze". NOS. February 8, 2024.
  22. ^ "Five Questions for Judith Auberjonois" (PDF). Compassion & Choices. 2021. p. 20.
  23. ^ "Islander, Author, Broadcaster Arthur Black Dies". Gulf Islands Driftwood. February 21, 2018. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021.
  24. ^ "Pédagogie : le chercheur Denis Berthiaume annonce son recours à l'aide médicale à mourir au Canada". News Tank Éducation & Recherche (in French). Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  25. ^ "Ook zonder ziekte hulp bij zelfdoding". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). October 31, 2000. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016.
  26. ^ "Décès de Michèle Causse, écrivain et militante lesbienne". Le Télégramme. Archived from the original on 2018-08-12. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
  27. ^ "Author Claus dies by euthanasia". BBC News. March 21, 2008. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  28. ^ Lee, Chin-wei; Chang, S.C. (7 June 2018). "Former sports anchor Fu Da-ren ends life by assisted suicide". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020.
  29. ^ Gellene, Denise (May 6, 2013). "Christian de Duve, 95, Dies; Nobel-Winning Biochemist". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  30. ^ "Voormalig hockey-international Fleur van Dooren (35) overleden" [Former hockey international Fleur van Dooren (35) passed away]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 22 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  31. ^ Appel, Jacob M. (July 16, 2009). "Next: Assisted Suicide for Healthy People". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012.
  32. ^ a b Briceno, Franklin (April 23, 2024). "Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024.
  33. ^ Williams, Alex (October 7, 2022). "Anton Fier, Drummer Who Left Stamp on a Downtown Scene, Dies at 66". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  34. ^ Schudel, Matt (July 13, 2022). "Mark Fleischman, Studio 54 owner, dies by assisted suicide at 82". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  35. ^ Schulthess, Von Adrian (January 20, 2012). "ZÜRICH – In seinen TV-Rollen trotzte Herbert Fux (79) meist dem Tod. Im wahren Leben suchte ihn der Österreicher sogar – bei den Sterbehelfern von Dignitas in Zürich". Blick (in German). Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  36. ^ "Jean-Luc Godard: Legendary film director dies at 91 by assisted suicide". BBC News. September 13, 2022. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022.
  37. ^ Backmann, Helena; Stanglin, Doug (May 10, 2018). "David Goodall, 104, takes final journey at Swiss assisted-suicide clinic". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018.
  38. ^ "Décès de Paulette Guinchard, ancienne députée du Doubs et secrétaire d'Etat aux personnes âgées". France 3 Bourgogne Franche-Comté (in French). 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022.
  39. ^ Gurner, Richard (March 26, 2010). "Johnny Hicklenton dies at Swiss euthanasia clinic". Brighton Argus. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  40. ^ Moore, Madison (October 4, 2016). "ZeroMQ founder Pieter Hintjens dies". San Diego Times. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019.
  41. ^ "Legislator dies using medical suicide law he helped pass". Associated Press. January 19, 2022. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022.
  42. ^ "Shoeless Author Kinsella Died". The Montreal Gazette. September 17, 2016. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016.
  43. ^ "Scorer of first Bundesliga goal dies by assisted suicide". Dawn. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  44. ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Arts-. "La comédienne Andrée Lachapelle s'éteint à 88 ans". Radio-Canada.ca (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  45. ^ Houpt, Simon (October 11, 2019). "Margaret Lyons, 95, was an influential executive who sparked CBC's Radio Revolution". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  46. ^ "Le Doc Mailloux s'éteint à 74 ans". La Presse. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  47. ^ "Wilfried Martens koos voor euthanasie: "Hij was op het einde van zijn leven"". Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). October 3, 2018. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022.
  48. ^ Egan, Nicole (November 2, 2014). "Terminally Ill Woman Brittany Maynard Has Ended Her Own Life". People. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  49. ^ Moulin, Marc (12 April 2017). "Chaïm Nissim, l'ultime bravade d'un jusqu'au-boutiste". La Tribune de Genève.
  50. ^ Cordasco, Lisa (15 September 2021). "'Margaret's Museum' director opts for medical assistance in dying on Salt Spring Island". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021.
  51. ^ Adams, Lucy (February 8, 2007). "Death on her own terms". The Herald. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  52. ^ Pollak, Sally (December 14, 2022). "Life Stories: Musician Pete Sutherland Was a 'Unifying Force'". Seven Days. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  53. ^ "Radio personality Adi Talmor dies at 58". The Jerusalem Post. August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  54. ^ "Marieke Vervoort: Tribute to the Paralympian, who ended her life through euthanasia". 23 October 2019. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019.
  55. ^ Green, Penelope (August 18, 2022). "Norah Vincent, Who Chronicled Passing as a Man, Is Dead at 53". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  56. ^ Shenton, Kenneth (October 22, 2009). "Pamela Weston: Clarinettist, music historian and inspirational teacher". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  57. ^ "Dichter Rogi Wieg (52) overleden". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). July 15, 2015. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021.
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