Euthanasia laws
Information on the law about Euthanasia
| State | Code Section | Mercy Killing Condoned | Operative Facts |
| ALABAMA | 22-8A-10; 22-8A-9(a) | Euthanasia not condoned or authorized nor is allowed any affirmative act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying | Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures in accordance with chapter 22-8A shall not constitute assisting suicide. |
| ALASKA | 18.12.080(a) and (f) | Euthanasia or mercy killing not condoned, authorized, or approved by Alaska law. | Withholding or withdrawing any life-sustaining procedures under an order, protocol, or a declaration does not constitute a suicide or homicide |
| ARIZONA | 36-3201, et seq. (Chapter 32) | Euthanasia, suicide, or assisted suicide is not authorized, or approved by Arizona law. | Authorized surrogate or health care provider complying with provisions of chapter are immune from liability. |
| ARKANSAS | 20-17-210(a), (g) | Euthanasia or mercy killing not condoned, authorized, or approved by Arkansas law. | Death resulting from withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment pursuant to declaration and in accordance with this section does not constitute suicide or homicide. |
| CALIFORNIA | Probate §4653 | Nothing condones, authorizes, or approves mercy killing or permits an affirmative act or omission to end life other than the withholding of health care pursuant to a durable power of attorney so as to permit the natural process of dying. In making health care decisions under a durable power of attorney, an attempted suicide shall not be construed to indicate a decision of the principal that health care treatment be restricted or inhibited. | Death resulting from withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in accordance with the Natural Death Act does not constitute for any purposes suicide or homicide. |
| COLORADO | 15-14-504; 15-18-111, 112 | Nothing condones, authorizes, or approves euthanasia or mercy killing or shall be construed as permitting any affirmative or deliberate act to end a person's life except to permit natural death. | Withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining procedures pursuant to a declaration or the law shall not constitute a suicide or homicide. |
| CONNECTICUT | No statutory provisions | ||
| DELAWARE | 16 §2512 | Nothing in this act condones, authorizes, or approves of mercy killing; permits any affirmative act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying | Neither execution of declaration nor fact that maintenance medical treatment is withheld from patient in accordance with the declaration shall constitute suicide. |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | 7-630; 21-2212; 7-628 | Euthanasia not condoned, authorized, or approved nor is any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end a human life other than to permit the natural process of dying. | Withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining procedures in accordance with the Natural Death chapter shall not constitute the crime of assisting suicide. |
| FLORIDA | 765.309 | Nothing construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying. | The withdrawing of life-prolonging procedures from a patient in accordance with any provision of this chapter does not for any purpose constitute a suicide. |
Table 37b: Right to Die: Euthanasia—Continued
| State | Code Section | Mercy Killing Condoned | Operative Facts |
| GEORGIA | 31-32-9; 31-32-11 | Mercy killing is not condoned, authorized, or approved nor is any affirmative or deliberate act or omission permitted to end life other than to permit the process of dying. | The making of a living will pursuant to this chapter shall not for any purpose constitute a suicide. |
| HAWAII | 327E-13 | Mercy killing or euthanasia not condoned, authorized, or approved by Hawaii law. | Death resulting from withholding or withdrawal of life sustaining procedures does not constitute suicide. Execution of declaration does not constitute attempted suicide |
| IDAHO | 56-1022 | Does not make legal or condone mercy killing, euthanasia, or assisted suicide | |
| ILLINOIS | 755 ILCS 35/9 and 45/4-8e | Nothing in this Act shall be construed to condone mercy killing or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit natural process of dying. | Withholding or withdrawal of death delaying procedures from a qualified patient or in accordance with terms of this Act or a health care agency shall not constitute suicide or homicide or murder. |
| INDIANA | 16-36-1-13, 16-36-4-19 | Euthanasia not condoned or authorized by Indiana law. This chapter does not authorize euthanasia or any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying, including the withholding or withdrawing of life prolonging procedures under this chapter | |
| IOWA | 144A.11.6 and 144B.12 | This chapter should not be construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia or any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying. | Death resulting from withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures pursuant to a declaration and in accordance with this chapter does not, for any purpose, constitute a suicide or homicide |
| KANSAS | 65-28,108; 65-28,109 | Nothing in this act shall be construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying. | Acting in accordance with the Natural Death Act shall not for any purpose constitute a suicide or the crime of assisting suicide. |
| KENTUCKY | 311.637 and 311.639 | Nothing shall be construed to condone mercy killing or euthanasia or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act to end life other than to permit natural process of dying. | Withholding or withdrawal of life prolonging treatment or artificially provided nutrition and hydration shall not constitute suicide. |
| LOUISIANA | 40:1299.58.10(A), (B)(1) | Nothing in this section shall be construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying. | The withholding of life-sustaining procedures in accordance with this part shall not for any purpose constitute suicide. |
Table 37b: Right to Die: Euthanasia—Continued
| State | Code Section | Mercy Killing Condoned | Operative Facts |
| MAINE | 18A §5-813 | (c) This part does not authorize mercy killing, assisted suicide, euthanasia or the provision, withholding, or withdrawal of health care to the extent prohibited by other statutes of this state. | (b) Death resulting from the withholding or withdrawal of health care in accordance with this part does not constitute a suicide or homicide. |
| MARYLAND | Health-Gen. §§5-611 and 5-614 | Nothing in this subtitle should be construed to condone, authorize, or approve of mercy killing or euthanasia or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying. | Withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining procedures in accordance with this subtitle shall not for any purpose be considered to be a suicide. |
| MASSACHUSETTS | Ch. 201D §12 | Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to constitute, condone, authorize, or approve suicide or mercy killing or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act to end one's own life other than to permit the natural process of dying. | |
| MICHIGAN | 333.5660 | Designation of a patient advocate shall not be construed to condone, allow, permit, authorize, or approve suicide or homicide. | |
| MINNESOTA | 145B.14; 145C:14 | Euthanasia, mercy killing, suicide, or assisted suicide is not condoned or authorized or approved by Minnesota law. | |
| MISSISSIPPI | 41-41-227 | This act does not authorize mercy killing, assisted suicide, or euthanasia. | The act does not authorize the provision, withholding, or withdrawal of health-care to the extent prohibited by other statutes. |
| MISSOURI | 404.845; 459.055 | Euthanasia or mercy killing is not condoned or authorized by Missouri law, nor does it permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to shorten or end life. | When patient's death results from withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in accordance with a durable power of attorney, the death shall not constitute a suicide or homicide for any purpose. |
| MONTANA | 50-9-205; 50-10-104 | Montana's Right of the Terminally Ill Act does not condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia. | Death resulting from the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures pursuant to a valid DNR order is not, for any purpose, suicide or homicide. |
| NEBRASKA | 20-412; 28-307; 30-3401 | This Act does not confer any new rights regarding provision or rejection of specific medical care and does not alter laws regarding homicide, suicide, or assisted suicide. Nor does it approve, authorize, or condone homicide, suicide, or assisted suicide. Assisting suicide is a Class IV felony. | Death from withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in accordance with this Act shall not constitute, for any purpose, homicide or suicide |
Table 37b: Right to Die: Euthanasia—Continued
| State | Code Section | Mercy Killing Condoned | Operative Facts |
| NEVADA | 449.650; 449.670 | Euthanasia or mercy killing not condoned or authorized or approved by Nevada law. | Death resulting from withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in accordance with Nevada law does not for any purpose constitute suicide or homicide. |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | 137-H:10, 13 | Euthanasia, mercy killing, or assisted suicide are not condoned or authorized by New Hampshire law. Nor does New Hampshire law permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying of those in a terminal or permanently unconscious condition. | Withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining procedures from a patient according to living will or consistent with 137-H:3 shall not be construed as suicide for any legal purpose. |
| NEW JERSEY | 26:2H-77; 26:2H-54 | No one has the right to or is authorized to practice active euthanasia. | Withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment pursuant to an advanced directive for health care when performed in good faith shall not constitute homicide, suicide, assisted suicide, or active euthanasia. |
| NEW MEXICO | 24-7A-13 | Uniform Health Care Decisions Act does not authorize mercy killing, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or the provision, withholding or withdrawal of health care to the extent prohibited by other statutes | Withholding of medical treatment pursuant to Right to Die Act shall not for any purpose constitute suicide. |
| NEW YORK | Pub. Health Law §2989 | Statute not intended to promote or permit suicide, assisted suicide, or euthanasia; nor to be construed to permit agent to consent to any act or omission to which the principal could not consent under law. | |
| NORTH CAROLINA | 90-320(b); §32A-24 | Provisions in the act do not authorize any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit natural process of dying. | Withholding life support is not considered suicide or cause of death for civil or criminal purposes. |
| NORTH DAKOTA | 23-06.4-01 and 11; 23-06.5-01 | Euthanasia, mercy killing, or assisted suicide is not condoned or authorized by North Dakota law, nor is any other act or omission other than to allow the natural process of dying. | Death resulting from withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging treatment does not constitute for any purpose, suicide or homicide. |
| OHIO | 2133.12(A), (D) | Euthanasia, mercy killing, or assisted suicide is not condoned or authorized by Ohio law. | Death of any patient resulting from withholding life-sustaining treatment does not constitute suicide, murder or any homicide offense for any purpose. |
| OKLAHOMA | Tit. 63 §§3101.2, 3101.12 | Euthanasia, mercy killing, or assisted suicide is not condoned or authorized by Oklahoma law. | Death from withdrawing life-sustaining treatment shall not constitute homicide or suicide. |
| OREGON | 127.570 & 127.800 | Nothing in statute is intended to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or permit affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life, other than to allow the natural process of dying. | Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or artificially administered nutrition and hydration does not constitute suicide, assisted suicide, homicide, or mercy killing. |
Table 37b: Right to Die: Euthanasia—Continued
| State | Code Section | Mercy Killing Condoned | Operative Facts |
| PENNSYLVANIA | 20 §5402; §5410 | Mercy killing, euthanasia, aided suicide is not condoned, authorized, or approved; nor is any affirmative or deliberate act to end life other than defined by this Act. | Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in accordance with this chapter shall not constitute suicide or homicide. |
| RHODE ISLAND | 23-4.10-9; 23-4.11-10 | Euthanasia or mercy killing is not condoned or authorized by Rhode Island law. | Death resulting from withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining procedures does not constitute suicide or homicide. |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | 44-77-110, 130 | Euthanasia or mercy killing is not condoned or authorized by South Carolina law, nor is any act or omission other than to allow the natural process of dying. | Effectuation of health care power of attorney or execution of declaration does not constitute suicide for any purpose. |
| SOUTH DAKOTA | 34-12D-14, 20 | Euthanasia, mercy killing, or assisted suicide is not condoned or authorized by South Dakota law. | Death by withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment does not constitute suicide or homicide. |
| TENNESSEE | 32-11-110; 39-13-216 | Assisted suicide is a class D felony. | Withdrawal or withholding of medical care in accordance with provisions of this Act does not constitute suicide, euthanasia, or homicide. |
| TEXAS | Health & Safety 166.45-51 | Mercy killing or euthanasia is not condoned or authorized by Texas law, nor is any act or omission other than to allow the natural process of dying. | Withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining procedures does not constitute offense of Aiding Suicide |
| UTAH | 75-2-1116, 1118 | Euthanasia, mercy killing, or suicide is not condoned or authorized by Utah law. | Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures does not constitute suicide or assisting suicide |
| VERMONT | Tit. 18, §5260 | Acting pursuant to terminal care document in withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures from patient is not suicide. | |
| VIRGINIA | §§54.1-2990, 2991 | Mercy killing or euthanasia is not condoned, approved, or authorized by Virginia law, nor is any affirmative or deliberate act or omission other than to allow the natural process of dying permitted. | Acting in accordance with Health Care Decisions Act in withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging procedures does not constitute suicide. |
| WASHINGTON | 70.122.100 and .070 | Euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is not condoned or authorized by Washington law, nor is any act or omission other than to allow the natural process of dying. | Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment shall not constitute suicide or homicide |
| WEST VIRGINIA | 16-30-15 | Euthanasia or mercy killing is not condoned or authorized by West Virginia law, nor is any act or omission other than to allow the natural process of dying. |
Table 37b: Right to Die: Euthanasia—Continued
| State | Code Section | Mercy Killing Condoned | Operative Facts |
| WISCONSIN | 154.11; 155.70 | Euthanasia is not condoned or authorized by Wisconsin law, nor is any affirmative or deliberate act or omission other than to allow the natural process of dying. | Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or feeding tubes does not constitute suicide. Execution of declaration does not constitute attempted suicide. |
| WYOMING | 35-22-108, 109 & 3-5-211 | Euthanasia or mercy killing is not condoned or authorized by Wyoming law, nor is any affirmative or deliberate act or omission other than to allow the natural process of dying. | Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures from a qualified patient in accordance with this chapter does not constitute a crime. |
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