Tuscany has made history as the first region in Italy to pass legislation regulating medically assisted suicide, a move that may prompt challenges from the country’s right-wing-led government.
The new law stipulates that a medical and ethics commission must review end-of-life requests within a maximum of 30 days. If approved, regional health services must provide the required medication and a doctor within 10 days. Medical personnel have the option to opt out.
The law was passed with a vote of 27-13 in the centre-left-governed region. Regional Governor Eugenio Giani emphasized, “The law does nothing more than provide objective procedures and clarity,” adding, “I feel that we are giving a national message.”
In 2019, Italy’s Constitutional Court ruled that assisted suicide is legal for patients suffering from irreversible conditions and intolerable pain, provided they can make a free and conscious decision. However, the Italian parliament has yet to pass national right-to-die legislation.
Tuscany’s law may face legal hurdles if the right-wing-led government, under Premier Giorgia Meloni, challenges the regional decision, arguing that it oversteps constitutional boundaries.
While only a few European countries allow assisted suicide, discussions are ongoing in others, such as the United Kingdom, regarding their own policies.
