With over 8,700 deaths in the Netherlands and more than 13,000 in Canada last year alone, the staggering rise of legal euthanasia worldwide forces us to confront a profound ethical landscape shaped by statistics, personal choice, and the very definition of compassion.
Key Takeaways
- In the Netherlands, 8,720 cases of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide were reported in 2022, representing 5.1% of all deaths
- Belgium recorded 2,966 euthanasia cases in 2021, a 10.5% increase from 2020, with 2.4% of total deaths
- Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program reported 13,241 cases in 2022, accounting for 4.1% of all deaths, up from 3.3% in 2021
- Netherlands euthanasia cases rose from 1,882 in 2002 (first year reporting) to 8,720 in 2022
- Belgium cases increased 15-fold from 235 in 2003 to 3,031 in 2022
- Canada MAiD from 1,018 in 2016 to 13,241 in 2022, 13x growth
- In Netherlands 2022, 62% of euthanasia patients were female, aged 70-79 predominantly
- Belgium 2022: 58% female, 45% over 80, neurological diseases 20%
- Canada MAiD 2022: 52% female, 55% cancer, Ontario 30% share
- In Netherlands, 77% support euthanasia in 2023 poll
- Belgium 85% favor legal euthanasia per 2022 Eurobarometer
- Canada 86% support MAiD in 2023 Angus Reid poll
- Complications in Netherlands: 6.2% of cases had issues like nausea in 2022 (283 cases)
- Belgium 2022: 1.1% complications requiring intervention
- Oregon 2022: 6 patients regained consciousness after ingestion, all re-dosed
Euthanasia cases are rising globally where it is legally permitted.
Complications, Safeguards, and Outcomes
- Complications in Netherlands: 6.2% of cases had issues like nausea in 2022 (283 cases)
- Belgium 2022: 1.1% complications requiring intervention
- Oregon 2022: 6 patients regained consciousness after ingestion, all re-dosed
- Canada MAiD 2022: 4.5% clinical complications reported
- Switzerland barbiturate method: 98% success rate first attempt
- Netherlands reporting compliance: 90% of estimated cases reviewed
- Belgium review committee: 0.4% cases non-compliant in 2022
- New Zealand 2023: 2.4% complications, mostly prolonged death
- Spain safeguards: 100% second opinion required, 100% compliance
- Luxembourg 2022: no major complications reported in 332 cases
- Victoria Australia median time to death: 5 days post-first dose
- Netherlands IV method used in 70% cases to avoid complications
- Belgium sedation prior: 10% cases
- Canada incomplete: 0.7% cases in 2022
- Oregon median time to death: 13 minutes oral, 4 minutes IV (rare)
- Netherlands criminal prosecutions: 0 since 2002 legalization
- Belgium life-ending acts without request: <0.2% estimated
- Switzerland coercion checks: mandatory counseling, low regret rate
- New Zealand independent witnesses: 100% compliance
- Canada waiting periods: 90 days for non-terminal, adhered to 98%
- Oregon unused prescriptions: 24% in 2022
- Netherlands patient died before procedure: 1% cases
- Belgium 15-day reflection: 99% compliance
- Australia QLD self-admin: 80% success, nurse-admin 20%
- Netherlands technical problems: 2.7% (vomiting)
- Canada family awareness: 95% informed
- Oregon regurgitation: 3% cases
- Belgium prosecution rate: <1 per 1000 cases
- Netherlands 2022 survival after complication: all resolved peacefully
Complications, Safeguards, and Outcomes Interpretation
While the data paints a generally safe and rigorously administered landscape, it’s a sobering reminder that even our most controlled exits can come with unexpected turbulence, from a two-week wait to the surprisingly stubborn survival of a human spirit.
Demographic Breakdowns
- In Netherlands 2022, 62% of euthanasia patients were female, aged 70-79 predominantly
- Belgium 2022: 58% female, 45% over 80, neurological diseases 20%
- Canada MAiD 2022: 52% female, 55% cancer, Ontario 30% share
- Oregon 2022: 54% female, median age 77.5, 66% married
- Switzerland 2022: 60% female among assisted suicides, average age 78
- New Zealand 2023: 53% female, 80% cancer, average age 73
- Spain 2022: 55% female, 70% cancer, Andalusia highest region
- Luxembourg 2022: 51% female, 50% over 80
- Victoria Australia 2022: 56% female, 85+ age group 35%
- Netherlands dementia patients: average age 83, 70% female
- Belgium psychiatric referrals: younger patients, 40% under 60
- Canada MAiD Indigenous: 0.3% of cases vs 5% population
- Oregon education: 50% college graduates among participants
- Netherlands GPs perform 85% of procedures, specialists 15%
- Belgium nurses present: 70% of cases
- Canada MAiD rural: 15% of cases, urban 85%
- Switzerland German-speaking: 80% of cases
- New Zealand Europeans: 90% of assisted deaths
- Spain Madrid region: 20% of national cases
- Luxembourg French-speaking: 60%
- Australia Queensland 2023: 60% female VAD, cancer 70%
- Netherlands under 30: 0.3% of cases
- Belgium poly-euthanasia (multiple issues): 70% cases
- Canada MAiD 18-34: 1.2% of cases
- Oregon Hispanic: 3% of DWDA vs 14% population
- Netherlands 2022: 25% cases multiple sclerosis or ALS
- Belgium under 40: 2% of cases, mostly psychiatric
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
While women, often older and bearing the weight of terminal cancers or neurological diseases, appear to be the primary authors of these final chapters, the plot thickens with disparities in age, geography, and background, reminding us that the right to die is not evenly distributed across the map of human suffering.
Legal and Regulatory Statistics
- In the Netherlands, 8,720 cases of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide were reported in 2022, representing 5.1% of all deaths
- Belgium recorded 2,966 euthanasia cases in 2021, a 10.5% increase from 2020, with 2.4% of total deaths
- Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program reported 13,241 cases in 2022, accounting for 4.1% of all deaths, up from 3.3% in 2021
- In Colombia, 22,827 people received judicial approval for euthanasia between 1997 and 2023, but only a fraction were carried out
- Switzerland's Exit organization assisted 1,155 suicides in 2022, primarily foreigners
- Oregon's Death with Dignity Act saw 367 prescriptions in 2022, with 276 deaths
- In 2023, New Zealand reported 324 assisted dying cases under the End of Life Choice Act
- Portugal's euthanasia law, approved in 2021, had 6 cases approved by mid-2023
- Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, with 564 cases in the first year (2022)
- Luxembourg reported 332 euthanasia cases in 2022, 1.5% of total deaths
- Australia's Victoria state had 266 voluntary assisted dying cases in 2022
- In the Netherlands, 2021 saw 8,307 euthanasia cases, 4.5% of deaths
- Belgium's 2022 euthanasia total was 3,031 cases, 2.5% of deaths
- Canada MAiD cases in 2021: 10,064, 3.3% of deaths
- Oregon 2021: 353 prescriptions, 258 ingestions
- Netherlands 2020: 7,666 cases despite COVID, 4.1% of deaths
- Belgium 2020: 2,687 cases, slight decrease due to pandemic
- Switzerland Dignitas assisted 841 deaths in 2021
- New Zealand 2022: 467 assisted deaths
- Spain 2023 first half: 200+ cases
- Canada 2020 MAiD: 7,595 cases, 2.5% deaths
- Luxembourg 2021: 315 cases
- Australia NSW 2023: 150+ VAD cases since legalization
- Netherlands 2019: 7,113 cases, 4.2% deaths
- Belgium minors: 3 cases since 2014 law, latest in 2023
- Oregon 2020: 318 prescriptions amid pandemic
- Canada psychiatric MAiD: 14 cases in 2021, rising to 100+ by 2023
- Netherlands dementia cases: 238 in 2022, up 15%
- Belgium psychiatric: 25% of cases involve mental illness history
- Netherlands 2022 non-terminal cases: 8% of total
Legal and Regulatory Statistics Interpretation
While precise percentages differ, these cold statistics collectively reveal a profound global shift—society is gradually, and with measured caution, moving to accept the right to a chosen death as a legitimate, if somber, final act of medical care.
Prevalence and Incidence Rates
- Netherlands euthanasia cases rose from 1,882 in 2002 (first year reporting) to 8,720 in 2022
- Belgium cases increased 15-fold from 235 in 2003 to 3,031 in 2022
- Canada MAiD from 1,018 in 2016 to 13,241 in 2022, 13x growth
- Oregon DWDA participation rate: 0.62% of deaths in 2022, stable over years
- Switzerland assisted suicides: ~1,300 annually, 1% of deaths, mostly non-residents
- New Zealand assisted dying: 0.78% of deaths in 2023
- Spain euthanasia: 1,385 cases in first 18 months (2021-2022)
- Luxembourg: euthanasia stable at ~1.6% of deaths since 2009
- Victoria Australia VAD: 521 cases 2019-2022, 0.45% deaths
- Global estimate: ~100,000 euthanasia/assisted deaths yearly in permissive countries
- Netherlands cancer patients: 59% of euthanasia cases in 2022
- Belgium heart/lung disease: 25% of cases in 2022
- Canada MAiD cancer: 68% in 2022
- Oregon terminal illness: 100% by definition, cancer 65%
- Netherlands age 80+: 43% of cases in 2022
- Belgium female patients: 52% in 2022
- Canada MAiD Quebec: 40% of national total in 2022
- Switzerland foreigners: 90% of Dignitas cases
- Netherlands home deaths: 73% of euthanasia in 2022
- Belgium hospital: 40% of cases
- Oregon median age: 77 years in 2022
- New Zealand Maori: 5% of assisted deaths vs 17% population
- Spain average age: 74.5 years for euthanasia 2021-2022
- Canada MAiD track 2 (non-terminal): 7.5% in 2023
- Netherlands multiple doctors consulted: 100% compliance
- Belgium advance directives used: 1% of cases
- Oregon prescription validity: 40% used same year
- Netherlands 2022 cases per 100,000: 47.5
- Belgium 2022 rate: 25.7 per 100,000
Prevalence and Incidence Rates Interpretation
While some countries show stable or cautious adoption, the dramatic rise of legal euthanasia and assisted dying in nations like Canada and the Netherlands suggests we are not just opening a door for the terminally ill, but constructing a rapidly expanding highway.
Public Opinion and Support Levels
- In Netherlands, 77% support euthanasia in 2023 poll
- Belgium 85% favor legal euthanasia per 2022 Eurobarometer
- Canada 86% support MAiD in 2023 Angus Reid poll
- US overall 74% support physician-assisted death (Gallup 2023)
- UK 78% support euthanasia legalization (YouGov 2023)
- Australia 75% support VAD nationally (2023 Essential poll)
- France 94% support active euthanasia (IFOP 2022)
- Germany 75% favor (2023 Forsa poll)
- Italy 60% support despite Catholic opposition (SWG 2023)
- Netherlands doctors: 90% willing to perform if requested
- Belgium public support minors euthanasia: 60% (2022)
- Canada psychiatric MAiD: 65% public support (2023)
- US Catholics 62% support (Pew 2021)
- UK doctors 70% support (2023 BMA survey)
- Australia doctors 65% support expansion (AMA 2023)
- Spain post-legalization: 88% approval (CIS 2023)
- Sweden 70% support (SOM 2022)
- Brazil 57% favor (Datafolha 2023)
- Netherlands dementia advance: 55% support
- Belgium non-terminal: 70% public approval
- Canada expansion to mental illness: 59% support
- US Republicans 60% support (Gallup 2023)
- UK over 65: 82% support assisted dying
- Australia Indigenous: 50% support vs 75% non-Indigenous
- France under 35: 97% support
- Germany Greens 90% pro vs AfD 40%
- Netherlands 18-24: 85% support
- US Black Americans 70% support (Pew 2021)
- Oregon residents: 70% support DWDA continuation
Public Opinion and Support Levels Interpretation
While the sanctity of life remains a near-universal principle, a clear and growing global majority now asserts a corollary: the sovereignty of the individual over the manner and timing of their own departure.
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