Introduction
Assisted suicide is a contentious and highly debated issue in the United States. It is a practice where a medical practitioner provides an individual with the means to end their own life, usually through lethal drugs. The legality of assisted suicide varies widely across different US states; while it is legal in ten states and Washington D.C., there are active death-with-dignity laws in seven of those states that enable terminally ill patients to access such services under regulated circumstances. In nearly all cases, two doctors must provide written certification saying that the patient has less than six months to live, has made an informed decision to die, and is mentally competent. Opponents of assisted suicide argue that it goes against religious beliefs or professional medical codes of ethics, while proponents assert that it is necessary for terminally ill patients who are suffering from intolerable pain or loss of autonomy and dignity. Despite this debate, current polls show that most Americans support the right to end their lives with assistance when facing terminal illness or intractable pain.
| State | Assisted Suicide Permission | Suicide Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | 16 per 100k |
| Alaska | No | 27.5 per 100k |
| Arizona | No | 17.6 per 100k |
| Arkansas | No | 19 per 100k |
| Connecticut | No | 9.3 per 100k |
| Delaware | No | 12.3 per 100k |
| Florida | No | 13.2 per 100k |
| Georgia | No | 13.7 per 100k |
| Idaho | No | 23.2 per 100k |
| Illinois | No | 10.5 per 100k |
| Indiana | No | 15 per 100k |
| Iowa | No | 18 per 100k |
| Kansas | No | 18.4 per 100k |
| Kentucky | No | 17.7 per 100k |
| Louisiana | No | 13.7 per 100k |
| Maryland | No | 9.2 per 100k |
| Massachusetts | No | 8.4 per 100k |
| Michigan | No | 14 per 100k |
| Minnesota | No | 13.1 per 100k |
| Mississippi | No | 13.9 per 100k |
| Missouri | No | 18.2 per 100k |
| Nebraska | No | 14.9 per 100k |
| Nevada | No | 18.2 per 100k |
| New Hampshire | No | 16.4 per 100k |
| New York | No | 8 per 100k |
| North Carolina | No | 13.2 per 100k |
| North Dakota | No | 18.2 per 100k |
| Ohio | No | 13.8 per 100k |
| Oklahoma | No | 21.9 per 100k |
| Pennsylvania | No | 12.6 per 100k |
| Rhode Island | No | 8.5 per 100k |
| South Carolina | No | 16.3 per 100k |
| South Dakota | No | 21 per 100k |
| Tennessee | No | 17.2 per 100k |
| Texas | No | 13.3 per 100k |
| Utah | No | 20.8 per 100k |
| Virginia | No | 13.5 per 100k |
| West Virginia | No | 19.4 per 100k |
| Wisconsin | No | 14.5 per 100k |
| Wyoming | No | 30.5 per 100k |
| California | Yes | 10 per 100k |
| Colorado | Yes | 21.5 per 100k |
| District of Columbia | Yes | |
| Hawaii | Yes | 12.9 per 100k |
| Maine | Yes | 16.4 per 100k |
| Montana | Yes | 26.1 per 100k |
| New Jersey | Yes | 7.1 per 100k |
| New Mexico | Yes | 24.2 per 100k |
| Oregon | Yes | 18.3 per 100k |
| Vermont | Yes | 18.1 per 100k |
| Washington | Yes | 15.2 per 100k |
Assisted Suicide Permission by State
Alabama
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
16 per 100k
↓ 1.84%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#25
Alaska
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
27.5 per 100k
↓ 3.51%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#2
Arizona
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
17.6 per 100k
↓ 5.88%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#20
Arkansas
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
19 per 100k
↑ 5.56%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#11
California
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
10 per 100k
↓ 6.54%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#44
Colorado
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
21.5 per 100k
↓ 2.71%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#7
Connecticut
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
9.3 per 100k
↓ 18.42%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#45
Delaware
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
12.3 per 100k
↑ 8.85%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#42
District of Columbia
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
Florida
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
13.2 per 100k
↓ 8.97%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#37
Georgia
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
13.7 per 100k
↓ 6.16%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#33
Hawaii
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
12.9 per 100k
↓ 16.77%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#40
Idaho
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
23.2 per 100k
↑ 13.73%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#5
Illinois
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
10.5 per 100k
↓ 3.67%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#43
Indiana
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
15 per 100k
↑ 5.63%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#27
Iowa
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
18 per 100k
↑ 7.78%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#18
Kansas
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
18.4 per 100k
↑ 1.1%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#12
Kentucky
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
17.7 per 100k
↑ 7.27%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#19
Louisiana
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
13.7 per 100k
↓ 8.67%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#34
Maine
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
16.4 per 100k
↓ 15.46%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#22
Maryland
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
9.2 per 100k
↓ 10.68%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#46
Massachusetts
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
8.4 per 100k
↓ 3.45%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#48
Michigan
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
14 per 100k
↓ 2.1%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#30
Minnesota
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
13.1 per 100k
↓ 9.03%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#39
Mississippi
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
13.9 per 100k
↓ 3.47%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#31
Missouri
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
18.2 per 100k
- 0%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#14
Montana
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
26.1 per 100k
↓ 0.38%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#3
Nebraska
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
14.9 per 100k
↓ 7.45%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#28
Nevada
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
18.2 per 100k
↓ 8.08%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#15
New Hampshire
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
16.4 per 100k
↓ 6.29%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#23
New Jersey
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
7.1 per 100k
↓ 11.25%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#50
New Mexico
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
24.2 per 100k
↑ 0.83%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#4
New York
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
8 per 100k
↓ 3.61%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#49
North Carolina
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
13.2 per 100k
↑ 5.6%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#38
North Dakota
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
18.2 per 100k
↑ 0.55%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#16
Ohio
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
13.8 per 100k
↓ 8.61%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#32
Oklahoma
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
21.9 per 100k
↑ 6.83%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#6
Oregon
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
18.3 per 100k
↓ 10.29%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#13
Pennsylvania
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
12.6 per 100k
↓ 10.64%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#41
Rhode Island
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
8.5 per 100k
↓ 20.56%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#47
South Carolina
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
16.3 per 100k
↑ 0.62%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#24
South Dakota
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
21 per 100k
↑ 0.48%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#8
Tennessee
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
17.2 per 100k
- 0%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#21
Texas
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
13.3 per 100k
↓ 0.75%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#36
Utah
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
20.8 per 100k
↓ 1.89%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#9
Vermont
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
18.1 per 100k
↑ 13.13%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#17
Virginia
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
13.5 per 100k
↑ 5.47%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#35
Washington
Assisted Suicide Permission
Yes
15.2 per 100k
↓ 4.4%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#26
West Virginia
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
19.4 per 100k
↑ 4.86%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#10
Wisconsin
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
14.5 per 100k
↑ 3.57%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#29
Wyoming
Assisted Suicide Permission
No
30.5 per 100k
↑ 4.1%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#1
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