Where it is legal in the U.S.

Is assisted suicide legal in the United States?

Assisted suicide is currently legal in the states of Oregon and Washington where ballot measures were approved by residents of those states.

Click here to read personal stories of how supposed “safeguards” in the Oregon law have failed to protect people from abuse or exploitation.

Prior to 2000, ballot measures to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia were defeated in California, Michigan, Washington and Maine.

A Montana State Supreme Court decision in 2009 failed to declare that assisted suicide is a constitutional right, but left in doubt the legal status of assisted suicide.

In 2012, proponents of assisted suicide gathered enough signatures to put an initiative on the November, 2012 ballot to legalize assisted suicide in Massachusetts. The ballot measure was defeated 51% - 49%.

From January 1994 to December 2012, there were over 126 legislative proposals in 25 states to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia. All bills were defeated, tabled, withdrawn or failed due to inaction. Read more about attempts made to legalize Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide.