Euthanasia in Europe

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Euthanasia has garnered renewed attention in Europe following its legalization in the Netherlands in April 2001. The desire for a painless death is universal, yet the means to achieve it vary significantly. Many view euthanasia as the only option, while the vital alternative—palliative medicine—remains underrecognized and underdeveloped in numerous European nations. This lack of awareness stems from insufficient focus on end-of-life care in medical education, training programs, and textbooks. Only the UK has established palliative medicine as a recognized specialty. Palliative care, which encompasses comprehensive support for patients and their families when curative treatments are no longer effective, is rarely available in other advanced European countries. There is an urgent need to integrate medical ethics, communication skills, and pain management into medical curricula. The prevailing curative approach must shift towards a palliative model, especially as the population ages and chronic illnesses become more prevalent. Pain and mental suffering must be treated with the same urgency as cardiac emergencies. This work surveys current national legislation and professional guidelines while providing an ethical perspective on the practical realities of euthanasia and palliative care across the European Union and beyond, with contributions from Norway and Switzerland. The editors acknowledge the support of the Europe Against Can