Assisted Suicide Updates

Legislating Assisted Suicide

As of the beginning of 2025, assisted suicide is legal in California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington as well as in the District of Columbia.  Montana allows for a defense against criminal liability regarding assisted suicide, that consent could be used as a defense according to a decision by the state Supreme Court.

Several states introduced legislation to either legalize or expand assisted suicide in their jurisdiction.  During the year, three states, Delaware, Illinois, and New York succeeded in passing laws allowing assisted suicide.

Whether it is called euthanasia, assisted suicide, aid in dying or death with dignity all seek the same result, to allow for people to be killed through medical personnel.  The details of the laws may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but the sole purpose is to take the life of another by administering drugs to end that patient’s life.

Alex Schadenberg of Euthanasia Prevention Coalition covers this topic in the United States and abroad.  See his article on the expanding assisted suicide laws.

We will continue to track and distribute information on bills that carry over or bills that are introduced in 2026.

Click on your state for more information.

States that passed their assisted suicide legislation

The states below introduced legislation on assisted suicide but did not pass it in the 2025 session.