Slovenia on Sunday will be the latest European country to determine whether to allow assisted dying, as it holds a referendum after parliament voted in favour in July.

Here is a round-up of the situation in Europe, where several countries already allow the terminally ill to end their lives, by euthanasia (death induced by a caregiver at the request of a patient) or assisted dying, where the patient is assisted in ending their own life.

- Pioneers: Netherlands, Belgium -

In the Netherlands, euthanasia has been legal but strictly regulated since April 2002.

A doctor and an independent expert must determine that the patient is suffering unbearably and without hope of improvement.

This right was extended in 2023 to children under 12.

Belgium followed the Netherlands later in 2002 by adop

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