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.
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.
‘Disturbing’: Experts troubled by Canada’s euthanasia laws
August 11, 2022 GMTTORONTO (AP) — Alan Nichols had a history of depression and other medical issues, but none were life-threatening. When the 61-year-old Canadian was hospitalized in June 2019 over fears he might be suicidal, he asked his brother to “bust him out” as soon as possible.
Australian Parliament considers lifting euthanasia ban
August 1, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A new bill was introduced in the Australian Parliament on Monday seeking to lift a 25-year ban on doctor-assisted dying in two territories.
Australia’s sparsely populated Northern Territory in 1995 became the first place in the world to legalize voluntary euthanasia.
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.
Colombian man felt tranquil before euthanasia ended his pain
January 8, 2022 GMTCALI, Colombia (AP) — For the first time in years, Víctor Escobar stopped taking most of the medicines needed for his lung disease. There was no longer any need. On Friday evening, he became the first Colombian to be euthanized despite not yet being in terminal condition.
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.
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.
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...
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...
New Zealand votes to legalize euthanasia but not marijuana
October 30, 2020 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealanders voted to legalize euthanasia in a binding referendum, but preliminary results released Friday showed they likely would not legalize recreational marijuana use...
New Zealand to vote on legalizing marijuana and euthanasia
October 16, 2020 GMTAUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealanders are poised to decide on two landmark social issues during an election Saturday: whether to legalize recreational marijuana and whether to legalize euthanasia...
Dutch court approves euthanasia in advanced dementia cases
April 21, 2020 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Netherlands' highest court ruled Tuesday that doctors can carry out euthanasia in patients with advanced dementia if the patient has earlier made a written directive.
Dutch euthanasia center sees 22% rise in requests in 2019
February 7, 2020 GMTAMSTERDAM (AP) — A Dutch organization that carries out euthanasia received 3,122 requests last year, a 22% increase from the year before, the Euthanasia Expertise Center said Friday.
“Every work day, 13 people say: 'Help me, I can’t go on,'” Steven Pleiter, director of the center formerly known as the End of Life Clinic, said.
New Zealand leader discusses abortion, marijuana, monarchy
December 5, 2019 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — During an interview with The Associated Press, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discussed a range of social issues, including three the nation will make decisions on next year: euthanasia, marijuana use and abortion...
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...
Europe’s top rights court to hear Belgian euthanasia case
January 8, 2019 GMTLONDON (AP) — Europe's top human rights court has agreed to hear a case being brought against Belgium by a man whose mother was euthanized in 2012 for depression, the second case that implicates one of Belgium's leading euthanasia doctors...
Belgium investigates doctors who euthanized autistic woman
November 27, 2018 GMTLONDON (AP) — Belgian officials are investigating whether doctors improperly euthanized a woman with autism, the first criminal investigation in a euthanasia case since the practice was legalized in 2002 in the European nation...
“What could help me to die?” Doctors clash over euthanasia
October 26, 2017 GMTGHENT, Belgium (AP) — After struggling with mental illness for years, Cornelia Geerts was so desperate to die that she asked her psychiatrist to kill her...
Belgian order defies pope, insists on allowing euthanasia
September 13, 2017 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — A Belgian religious congregation is defying Pope Francis' order to stop allowing euthanasia in its psychiatric hospitals, saying that its decision to do so is fully consistent with Catholic doctrine...