Medically Assisted Dying — World Directory

Understanding Medically Assisted Dying

Medically assisted dying is an umbrella term for laws that allow an eligible person — usually a mentally competent adult living with a serious, often terminal, medical condition — to end their life with the assistance of a physician. It is legal in a growing number of countries and US states, but the rules, terminology, and safeguards differ significantly from one jurisdiction to the next. End Of Life Hub catalogs those differences in one place, with a dedicated page for every country and US state where some form of the practice is currently permitted.

Key terminology

Different jurisdictions use different terms, and the distinctions matter:

• Euthanasia — a physician directly administers the life-ending medication. This model is used in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, and Spain.
• Physician-assisted dying (assisted suicide) — the person self-administers medication that a physician has prescribed. This is the model used by the US "Death with Dignity" states and by Switzerland.
• Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) — Canada's legal term, which can encompass both of the above.
• Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) — the term used across the Australian states and New Zealand.

What eligibility usually involves

The specifics vary by jurisdiction and must always be checked locally, but most assisted-dying laws share a common framework of safeguards. These commonly include: being an adult; having the mental capacity to make a voluntary, informed decision; a qualifying medical condition (frequently a terminal illness with a defined prognosis, though some jurisdictions use broader criteria such as unbearable, irremediable suffering); one or more formal requests, sometimes separated by a mandatory waiting period; and independent assessment by two physicians. Residency requirements apply in most places — Switzerland is the best-known exception, which is why it is the jurisdiction most commonly associated with people travelling from abroad.

How to use this directory

Browse the country listings below, or jump to the US state-by-state guide, to see how each jurisdiction defines eligibility, what the legal process involves, and which official bodies oversee it. Because these laws are regularly amended, expanded, and occasionally challenged in court, every page links to authoritative government and health-authority sources. Always confirm the current law directly with the relevant official authority before making any decision. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact a crisis helpline immediately — in the US, call or text 988.