Can I get assisted dying in Sweden?
No — assisted dying is prohibited in Sweden. If someone else performs the fatal act it counts as murder or manslaughter under the Penal Code, and the patient's consent is no defence — that is the most dangerous misconception, because a written agreement protects nobody. There is no lawful assisted dying service. You do, however, as a patient with decision-making capacity have the right to decline or discontinue treatment under the Patient Act, including life-sustaining treatment, and palliative care, pain relief and palliative sedation are permitted even where they may shorten life. A living will is not legally binding, but it can inform healthcare of what you want.
📋 The rules
- Active euthanasia is banned
- If performed by another it counts as murder or manslaughter
- The patient's consent is no defence
- You may decline or withdraw treatment (Patient Act)
- A living will is not legally binding
🔓 Exceptions
- Declining life-sustaining treatment is allowed
- Pain relief that may shorten life is allowed (double effect)
- Palliative sedation is accepted at the end of life
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Assisted dying is judged as murder, 10–18 years or life, or manslaughter, 6–10 years — so it is not a care failure but one of the gravest crimes in the Penal Code. The patient's consent is no defence, however explicit or often repeated it was. For healthcare staff a second blow follows: the licence can be withdrawn via IVO, so the profession is gone even after the sentence has been served. The line runs at intent: declining life-sustaining treatment and relieving pain at the end of life are permitted.
📎 Official sources
- Patient Act (2014:821) · Riksdagen →
- Penal Code (1962:700) ch. 3 · Riksdagen →
- National Council on Medical Ethics (Smer) →
❓ Frequently asked
Is assisted dying allowed in Sweden?
No. Assisted dying is prohibited and counts as murder or manslaughter when someone else performs the act. The patient's consent is no defence, so a written agreement does not help.
Can I say no to treatment?
Yes. A patient with decision-making capacity may decline or discontinue treatment under the Patient Act, including life-sustaining treatment. It is a right, not something healthcare can refuse you.
What is palliative sedation?
Sedation for comfort at the end of life, and it is accepted in Swedish healthcare. Pain relief is permitted even where it may in some cases shorten life, because the purpose is to relieve suffering.
Is a living will binding?
No. It can inform healthcare of your wishes but is not legally binding. The right to decline treatment, by contrast, applies fully for as long as you have decision-making capacity.
What is the penalty for assisted dying?
Murder carries 10–18 years or life and manslaughter 6–10 years, so these are long prison sentences. Healthcare staff can also lose their licence via IVO, on top of the criminal liability.
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