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Four people were wounded in the shooting in December

Shooting suspect helped to die in Spain before trial

A gunman paralysed in a shooting spree in which he wounded four people was helped to die in Spain, his lawyer said, after a judge allowed the euthanasia before his trial for attempted murder.

World • 24 Aug 22

Ramon Sampedro died in 1998 after a 30-year court battle to end his own life

Spanish MPs approve bill legalising euthanasia

Spain's parliament has legalised euthanasia and assisted suicide for people with serious and incurable or debilitating diseases who want to end their life, making Spain the fourth country in the European Union to take the step.

World • 18 Mar 21

The bill legalises access to assisted suicide for adult patients in a situation of 'extreme suffering and irreversible damage'

Portuguese parliament votes to legalise euthanasia

Portugal's parliament has passed a law allowing medically assisted dying, putting the Catholic-majority country on course to become the fourth in Europe to legalise euthanasia.

World • 29 Jan 21

The referendum was held on 17 October, the same day as the general election

New Zealand backs euthanasia, Electoral Commission says

New Zealand has voted to legalise euthanasia but is on course to reject recreational marijuana use, the country's Electoral Commission has said.

World • 30 Oct 20

Applause broke out in the courtroom after judges ruled the doctor was right to abide by the woman's wish

Dutch doctor acquitted in landmark euthanasia case

A Dutch doctor was acquitted today of all charges for the euthanasia of an elderly patient who suffered from dementia.

Europe • 11 Sep 19

Previous legal cases in this area resulted in dismissals before going to court

Three euthanasia doctors to face trial in Belgium

Three doctors will face a criminal trial in Belgium accused of failing to comply with the legal conditions for euthanasia, the first such case since it was decriminalised in 2002.

World • 23 Nov 18

Director Kevin Fitzpatrick said assisted suicide and euthanasia could be discriminatory towards the disabled

Legalisation of assisted suicide 'catastrophic'

A new organisation opposed to legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia has warned that the consequences of doing so in Ireland would be catastrophic.

News • 06 Jun 15

Frank Van Den Bleeken considers himself a menace to society

Belgian serial rapist denied 'right to die'

An imprisoned Belgian serial rapist and murderer whose wish to die had been granted by doctors will not now be euthanised following a fresh medical decision, Justice Minister Koen Geens said.

News • 06 Jan 15

Frank Van Den Bleeken is serving life for sexual assault and murder at the prison of Bruges

Belgian serial rapist to be voluntarily euthanised

A convicted serial rapist, who had long asked to be allowed to die on psychological grounds, will be euthanised in Belgium on 11 January.

News • 05 Jan 15

There were heated exchanges in the parliament yesterday (Pic: EPA)

Belgium adopts law allowing euthanasia for U18s

Belgium's lower house of parliament has adopted, by a large majority, a law allowing euthanasia for terminally ill children.

News • 13 Feb 14

There is widespread support for the proposal in the House of Representatives

Belgian parliament debates euthanasia for children

A child euthanasia debate has divided Belgian parliamentarians ahead of Thursday's vote expected to legalise the right to grant euthanasia for terminally ill children.

News • 12 Feb 14

Belgium's Senate members vote during a session of the Senate's justice and social affairs commission on the expansion of the euthanasia law for minors

Belgium to rule on euthanasia for sick children

Belgium has moved a step closer to introducing the right to grant euthanasia for terminally-ill children, after a parliamentary committee voted it through by a large majority.

News • 27 Nov 13

Euthanasia