Mexico — Assisted suicide and availability of suicide drugs

Assisted suicide (legal in the United States only in Oregon) is an increasing debated issue in Mexico.  For example, in April 2008, the Mexican Senate voted to allow doctors to withdraw life-sustaining medicines in certain cases.  However, no authorization was given to takes steps which would actively cause death.

Mexico is also seeing an increase in what are called “death tourists,” that is, individuals who are seeking drugs to commit suicide.  According to Marc Lacey, In Tijuana, a Market for Death in a Bottle, NY Times, July 21, 2008, pentobarbital is readily available for purchase, especially in pet stores.  “[A]ging and ailing people seeking a quick and painless way to end their lives say there is no easier place on earth than Mexico to obtain pentobarbital, a barbiturate commonly known as Nembutal.”