Key takeaways
Assisted Suicide States
Assisted suicide, also called medical aid in
Assisted suicide, also called medical aid in dying, is legal in 11 states plus the District of Columbia in 2026. All 12 jurisdictions require a terminal illness diagnosis and self-administration of the medication.
Maine requires the longest waiting period
Maine
Maine requires the longest waiting period among jurisdictions with a set process, 17 days between the two oral requests, though up to 10 of those days can be waived.
California and New Mexico require the
New Mexico
California and New Mexico require the shortest wait among jurisdictions with a set process, 48 hours before a prescription can be filled.
Map
Assisted Suicide States 2026 Map
| State | Legal Status |
|---|---|
| Alabama | No |
| Alaska | No |
| Arizona | No |
| Arkansas | No |
| California | Yes |
| Colorado | Yes |
| Connecticut | No |
| Delaware | Yes |
| District of Columbia | Yes |
| Florida | No |
| Georgia | No |
| Hawaii | Yes |
| Idaho | No |
| Illinois | No |
| Indiana | No |
| Iowa | No |
| Kansas | No |
| Kentucky | No |
| Louisiana | No |
| Maine | Yes |
| Maryland | No |
| Massachusetts | No |
| Michigan | No |
| Minnesota | No |
| Mississippi | No |
| Missouri | No |
| Montana | Yes |
| Nebraska | No |
| Nevada | No |
| New Hampshire | No |
| New Jersey | Yes |
| New Mexico | Yes |
| New York | No |
| North Carolina | No |
| North Dakota | No |
| Ohio | No |
| Oklahoma | No |
| Oregon | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | No |
| Rhode Island | No |
| South Carolina | No |
| South Dakota | No |
| Tennessee | No |
| Texas | No |
| Utah | No |
| Vermont | Yes |
| Virginia | No |
| Washington | Yes |
| West Virginia | No |
| Wisconsin | No |
| Wyoming | No |
Medical aid in dying is legal in 11 states and Washington, D.C. Montana is the only jurisdiction where it is legal through a court ruling rather than a statute.
Minimum Age: highest, median, and lowest
Assisted Suicide States Table
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|
State
|
Legal
|
Minimum Age
|
|---|---|---|
|
Alabama
|
No | — |
|
Alaska
|
No | — |
|
Arizona
|
No | — |
|
Arkansas
|
No | — |
|
California
|
Yes | 18 |
|
Colorado
|
Yes | 18 |
|
Connecticut
|
No | — |
|
Delaware
|
Yes | 18 |
|
District of Columbia
|
Yes | 18 |
|
Florida
|
No | — |
|
Georgia
|
No | — |
|
Hawaii
|
Yes | 18 |
|
Idaho
|
No | — |
|
Illinois
|
No | — |
|
Indiana
|
No | — |
|
Iowa
|
No | — |
|
Kansas
|
No | — |
|
Kentucky
|
No | — |
|
Louisiana
|
No | — |
|
Maine
|
Yes | 18 |
|
Maryland
|
No | — |
|
Massachusetts
|
No | — |
|
Michigan
|
No | — |
|
Minnesota
|
No | — |
|
Mississippi
|
No | — |
|
Missouri
|
No | — |
|
Montana
|
Yes | — |
|
Nebraska
|
No | — |
|
Nevada
|
No | — |
|
New Hampshire
|
No | — |
|
New Jersey
|
Yes | 18 |
|
New Mexico
|
Yes | 18 |
|
New York
|
No | — |
|
North Carolina
|
No | — |
|
North Dakota
|
No | — |
|
Ohio
|
No | — |
|
Oklahoma
|
No | — |
|
Oregon
|
Yes | 18 |
|
Pennsylvania
|
No | — |
|
Rhode Island
|
No | — |
|
South Carolina
|
No | — |
|
South Dakota
|
No | — |
|
Tennessee
|
No | — |
|
Texas
|
No | — |
|
Utah
|
No | — |
|
Vermont
|
Yes | 18 |
|
Virginia
|
No | — |
|
Washington
|
Yes | 18 |
|
West Virginia
|
No | — |
|
Wisconsin
|
No | — |
|
Wyoming
|
No | — |
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States Where Assisted Suicide Is Legal
Medical aid in dying is legal in 11 states and Washington, D.C.: California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Every jurisdiction requires a terminal illness diagnosis, a minimum age of 18 where a statute sets one, and self-administration of the prescribed medication.
Montana stands apart from the other 11 jurisdictions. It has no death with dignity statute at all. Medical aid in dying is legal there only because of a state Supreme Court ruling, which is why it sets no minimum age or request procedure in law.
Waiting Period Before a Prescription Can Be Written
Maine requires the longest waiting period on record, 17 days between the two oral requests, though up to 10 of those days can be waived if needed. California and New Mexico require the shortest wait, 48 hours, before a prescription can be filled.
Five jurisdictions, Delaware, Washington D.C., New Jersey, Oregon, and Vermont, share the most common waiting period on record at 15 days. Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, and Vermont all allow the wait to be waived entirely if the patient is unlikely to survive it.
| State | Waiting Period |
|---|---|
|
California
|
48 hours |
|
New Mexico
|
48 hours |
|
Hawaii
|
5 days |
|
Colorado
|
7 days |
|
Washington
|
7 days |
|
Delaware
|
15 days |
|
District of Columbia
|
15 days |
|
New Jersey
|
15 days |
|
Oregon
|
15 days |
|
Vermont
|
15 days |
|
Maine
|
17 days |
Quick Answers
Which states allow assisted suicide?
Is assisted suicide legal in Montana?
What is the waiting period for assisted suicide in Oregon?
What state has the shortest waiting period for medical aid in dying?
What state has the longest waiting period for medical aid in dying?
Do assisted suicide laws require a witness?
Methodology
Legal status, minimum age, and waiting periods reflect each jurisdiction's medical aid in dying law on record as of 2026. This page is informational only and does not constitute legal or medical advice.
Sources
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