Euthanasia in Luxembourg: 34 People Chose Assisted Dying in 2024, Commission Notes Ongoing Lack of Awareness

In 2024, 34 individuals in Luxembourg opted for euthanasia or assisted suicide, according to the latest report from the National Commission for Control and Evaluation of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide (CNCE). The figures, presented this week in Parliament, reveal that the number of cases has remained stable in recent years — with 22 in 2023, 34 in 2022, and 24 in 2021.

The CNCE’s eighth biennial report highlights not only the statistics but also ongoing challenges in awareness and understanding of end-of-life legislation. According to Commission President François Prum and Vice-President Maurice Graf, there remains “a lack of awareness among patients’ families and circles regarding the existence of end-of-life provisions that should be consulted.”

Luxembourg is among a small group of European countries — including the Netherlands and Belgium — that legally permit euthanasia and assisted suicide. The practice has been authorized in the Grand Duchy since 2009 under strict legal conditions.
According to Santé.lu, the national health portal, euthanasia is defined as “a medical act by which a doctor intentionally ends a person’s life following an explicit and voluntary request.” Assisted suicide, by contrast, involves “providing another person with the means to end their own life.”

To be eligible, the person must meet specific legal requirements: they must be of legal age, conscious at the time of the request, and capable of making independent decisions. Both procedures apply only to individuals suffering from incurable conditions, intended to alleviate unbearable pain and shorten the period of agony.

While euthanasia remains a sensitive and deeply personal topic, the CNCE’s report suggests that Luxembourg’s system continues to operate within its legal and ethical framework — though greater public understanding and communication about end-of-life options remain crucial.  
Read More: Three dozen people resorted to euthanasia in 2024 in Luxembourg | Contact

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