The law in other countries
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A number of other jurisdictions already have laws related to assisted suicide and some information drawn on their experience is set out below.
Some places have had assisted suicide laws in place for decades so there is some data on the number of people taking up this option. Interestingly, even where assisted suicide is available, a very significant proportion of those people who state they wish to end their own lives choose not to follow through with their stated intention.
State of Oregon, USA (population 3.9 million)
- Law passed in 1994
- Law forbids euthanasia
- Physician prescribes lethal medication, patient self-administers
- Patient must make three requests over 15-day period
- Various safeguards to prevent abuse
- In 2010, represented 0.2% of all deaths
- A survey of physicians reported only one out of ten requests for medication actually resulted in a suicide with several individuals changing their minds.
State of Washington, USA (population 6.9 million)
- Law passed in 2009
- Similar to...
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