Physician-Assisted Suicide Fast Facts

Physician-assisted suicide is legal in ten US states and the District of Columbia. It is an option given to individuals by law in Colorado, California, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. It is an option given to individuals in Montana via court decision. Individuals must have a terminal illness as well as a prognosis of six months or less to live. Physicians cannot be prosecuted for prescribing medications to hasten death.

CaliforniaColoradoDistrict of ColumbiaHawaiiMaineNew JerseyNew MexicoOregonVermontWashington

Montana

The specific method in each state varies, but mainly involves a prescription from a licensed physician approved by the state in which the patient is a resident.

Many proponents of the practice now refer to the term as Physician-assisted death (PAD) and no longer include the word "suicide" when describing the act.

Physician-assisted suicide differs from euthanasia, which is defined as the act of assisting people with their death in order to end their suffering, but without the backing of a controlling legal authority.

The process of reporting applications and deaths varies by state.