UK man to plead guilty to manslaughter in wife’s death
December 5, 2022 GMTPAPHOS, Cyprus (AP) —
Defense lawyers for a British man on trial for causing the death of his wife in Cyprus’ coastal resort town of Paphos said Monday they’re hopeful the court will suspend any sentence it hands down to their client after he pleads guilty to manslaughter next week.
Dutch activists sue government over assisted suicide
October 10, 2022 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Activists calling for the decriminalization of assisted suicide in the Netherlands took the Dutch government to court Monday, arguing that its ban on helping a person end their life breaches human rights.
France to open debate on legalizing assisted suicide
September 13, 2022 GMTPARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday announced a national debate on end-of-life options that will include exploring the possibility of legalizing assisted suicide.
A 2016 French law provides that doctors can keep terminally ill patients sedated before death but stops short of allowing assisted suicide.
Woman sues over residency requirement for assisted suicide
August 25, 2022 GMTA Connecticut woman with cancer sued Vermont on Thursday for allowing only its own residents to take advantage of a state law that lets people who are terminally ill end their own lives.
Lynda Bluestein, 75, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who has terminal fallopian tube cancer, and Dr.
Victims irked as Spain lets gunman die before trial
August 24, 2022 GMTMADRID (AP) — Spain’s assisted suicide law is in the spotlight after doctors allowed the death of a former security guard who faced trial for having stormed his former workplace a year ago, shooting and wounding three people and later a police officer.
Cyprus trial of UK man: Was it murder or assisted suicide?
June 17, 2022 GMTNICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The trial of a British man charged with the premeditated murder of his ill wife in Cyprus’ coastal resort town of Paphos was pushed back Thursday until September, with defense lawyers arguing that David Hunter should instead be charged with assisting a suicide.
Portugal’s lawmakers approve 3rd attempt to allow euthanasia
June 9, 2022 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal’s parliament voted for the third time in just over a year Thursday in favor of allowing euthanasia, though like the previous two attempts, the country's Constitutional Court or president could lawmakers' support from becoming law.
Oregon ends residency rule for medically assisted suicide
March 29, 2022 GMTOregon will no longer require people to be residents of the state to use its law allowing terminally ill people to receive lethal medication, after a lawsuit challenged the requirement as unconstitutional.
Advocates hopeful assisted suicide bill passes this year
February 23, 2022 GMTAdvocates of what's become a perennial bill that would allow terminally ill adults in Connecticut to request medication to help them die expressed optimism Wednesday this could be the year the proposal finally gets voted on by the full House and Senate and signed into law by Gov.
Assisted suicide bill narrowly clears Delaware House panel
January 20, 2022 GMTDOVER, Del. (AP) — A bill allowing doctor-assisted suicide in Delaware cleared a Democrat-led House committee by a single vote Wednesday, paving the way for possible consideration by the full House.
Austria to allow tightly limited right to assisted suicide
December 17, 2021 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Austria's parliament has approved legislation that will allow chronically or terminally ill people to stipulate their will to die in tightly defined circumstances.
Lawmakers approved the new rules by a broad majority on Thursday, with only one of three opposition parties voting against, the Austria Press Agency reported.
Portugal’s president vetoes 2nd version of euthanasia bill
November 30, 2021 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal's president has refused to sign for the second time a parliament-sanctioned bill allowing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, arguing the wording is imprecise and effectively shelving the piece of legislation until a new parliament and government are chosen early next year.
Portugal’s parliament backs revised bill allowing euthanasia
November 5, 2021 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal’s parliament approved a reworded bill Friday to allow euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill and seriously injured people, after a court blocked the initial version because of what it said was unclear terminology.
Challenge to residency requirements for assisted-suicide law
October 28, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A lawsuit has been filed saying the residency requirements for Oregon’s assisted suicide law violate the U.S. Constitution.
Oregon was the first state to legalize medical aid in dying in 1997, when it allowed adult residents with a terminal diagnosis and prognosis of six months or less to live to end their lives by taking a lethal dose of prescribed medication.
Head of Dutch pro-assisted suicide group detained
September 29, 2021 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The chairman of a Dutch organization that lobbies for people's right to end their own lives and provides information to its members was detained Wednesday on suspicion of involvement in assisted suicide.
Another Australian state legalizes voluntary euthanasia
September 16, 2021 GMTBRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Voluntary euthanasia became legal in a fifth Australian state on Thursday, more than 20 years after the country repealed the world’s first mercy killing law for the terminally ill.
Police: Lawyer Murdaugh arranged own death but shot grazed
September 15, 2021 GMTCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A prominent South Carolina lawyer who found the bodies of his wife and son three months ago tried to arrange his own death earlier this month so his son would get a $10 million life insurance payment, but the planned fatal shot only grazed his head, state police said Tuesday.
Chile legislature OKs euthanasia bill, which heads to Senate
April 20, 2021 GMTSANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile’s Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday approved a bill to allow euthanasia and assisted suicide for those over 18...
New Mexico latest state to adopt medically assisted suicide
April 9, 2021 GMTSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has become the latest state to provide a legal pathway for terminally ill patients to choose when and how they die...
Top Portugal court nixes euthanasia law, says it’s imprecise
March 15, 2021 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal’s Constitutional Court on Monday blocked a law passed by parliament introducing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill and gravely injured people...
Spain’s parliament votes to legalize euthanasia
December 17, 2020 GMTMADRID (AP) — Spain’s parliament voted Thursday to approve a bill that will allow physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia for long-suffering patients of incurable diseases or unbearable permanent conditions...
Christians, Muslims, Jews unite against assisted suicide
October 28, 2019 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — Leaders from three of the world's major religions have joined forces against assisted suicide and euthanasia, in a declaration issued at the Vatican.
The declaration, backed by leaders of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, states that no health care provider should be "coerced or pressured" into providing assisted suicide or any form of euthanasia...
Colorado doctor challenges firing over assisted suicide
October 9, 2019 GMTDENVER (AP) — A Colorado doctor fired after tying to help a terminally ill man obtain drugs to end his life has filed an updated lawsuit that challenges her firing by a Christian hospital company...
Italian Catholic bishops oppose assisted suicide ruling
September 26, 2019 GMTMILAN (AP) — The Italian Bishops' Conference is coming out against a constitutional court ruling that assisted suicide is not punishable in cases when a patient in an irreversible condition is suffering unbearable pain...
Company says clarity needed on Colorado assisted suicide law
September 12, 2019 GMTDENVER (AP) — A Christian-affiliated health system in a court fight over Colorado's assisted suicide law says the state can't stop religious organization from disciplining employees who encourage the option in violation of its beliefs...
Minnesota lawmakers will hear disputed assisted suicide bill
September 10, 2019 GMTMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A woman with terminal cancer will tell her story Wednesday before a Minnesota House committee considering a bill that would allow adults with less than six months to live to obtain medication to end their lives on their own terms...
Maine becomes 8th state to legalize assisted suicide
June 13, 2019 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine legalized medically assisted suicide on Wednesday, becoming the eighth state to allow terminally ill people to end their lives with prescribed medication...
Bill to legalize assisted suicide in Maine goes to governor
June 4, 2019 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Legislature voted Tuesday to legalize assisted suicide, with supporters declaring it in line with the state's tradition of individualism and opponents insisting the practice tempts fate...
Murphy to sign bill allowing medically assisted suicide
March 25, 2019 GMTTRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday he will sign legislation allowing terminally ill patients to seek life-ending medication.
New Jersey will join six other states and the District of Columbia that have similar laws once the bill is signed...
Nevada Senate committee approves medically assisted suicide
March 20, 2019 GMTCARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — A measure that would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives with medication prescribed by a doctor cleared its first hurdle Wednesday in the Nevada Legislature...
Hawaii law allowing medically assisted suicide takes effect
January 2, 2019 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii's new medically assisted suicide law has gone into effect, but few doctors and pharmacies are willing to prescribe and dispense the life-ending medications.
Hawaii Pacific Health and The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu said their pharmacies will not fill the prescriptions and hospitalized patients will not be able to take the lethal drugs on their campuses, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Australian, 104, dies in assisted suicide in Switzerland
May 10, 2018 GMTLIESTAL, Switzerland (AP) — A 104-year-old Australian biologist who drew international attention to his right-to-die case ended his life in Switzerland on Thursday, an advocacy group said...
Medically assisted suicide becomes legal in Hawaii
April 5, 2018 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii became the latest liberal-leaning state to legalize medically assisted suicide Thursday as the governor signed a measure into law allowing doctors to fulfill requests from terminally ill patients to prescribe life-ending medication...
Reader View: Assisted suicide bill — it deserved to die
March 21, 2017 GMTThanks to the state Senate’s rejection of the assisted suicide bill, Senate Bill 252, residents of New Mexico can breathe easier. As Sen. Craig Brandt said during last week’s debate, “This bill is dangerous.
Handful of Senate Dems help Republicans defeat aid-in-dying bill
March 16, 2017 GMTThe state Senate on Wednesday night defeated a bill that would have legalized assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.
In a 22-20 vote, seven Democrats joined 15 Republicans to stop the measure.
Suit seeks to exempt physicians from assisted suicide law
February 11, 2015 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A cancer patient and five doctors filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to exempt physicians who help terminally ill patients end their lives from a California ban on assisted suicide.
New Mexico appeals court hears assisted suicide case
January 26, 2015 GMTSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Do terminally ill patients in New Mexico already have the right to end their lives?
That's what the New Mexico Court of Appeals is set to decide after hearing arguments Monday from the state and lawyers for a terminally ill woman.