Assisted deaths generally increase over time when legalised – analysis

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By Erin Dean

The proportion of people having assisted deaths in countries where it is legal has remained “relatively small” but has generally increased over time, an analysis has concluded.

The Nuffield Trust looked at the international experience of assisted dying in 15 jurisdictions in nine countries.

The proportion of all deaths that were assisted ranged from 0.1% in New Jersey in the US, to 5.3% in the Netherlands in 2023, according to the report [pdf].

The increase in the proportion of assisted deaths over time has happened in most countries “regardless of eligibility criteria”.

This could be for a number of reasons including processes for assisted dying taking time to establish, increasing public awareness of the law, changes to eligibility and access over time, and changing attitudes towards assisted dying, the independent health think tank said.

The report has been published as MPs prepare to debate the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill for England and Wales, when it returns to the House of Commons on 16 May.