Looking back at: legalising assisted deaths

Assisted Dying is a highly debated issue worldwide. Taboo takes a look at the legalisation of either assisted dying, assisted suicide or euthanasia in some countries worldwide.

There is a slight difference between the terms used to talk about assisted deaths.

Assisted dying is when terminally ill people with less than six months to live have a say in how and when they die.

Assisted suicide involves someone who may have an incurable illness or disability but they are not necessarily going to die from it.

With both of these the patient themselves ends their own life with something given to them by a doctor.

Euthanasia is where a doctor ends the life of a person who has asked for it.

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If you are affected by any of the issues in this article UK readers can contact the Samaritans on 116 123.

A list of hotlines worldwide can be found here.