.- The Parliament of Luxemburg approved a law Tuesday legalizing euthanasia by a vote of 30-26, after limiting the powers of the Grand Duke Henry I, who had refused to sanction the measure for reasons of consciences.
Luxemburg has thus become the third EU country to enshrine euthanasia for the terminally ill in its law.
The new norm exempts doctors from legal or civil action for responding to a request for euthanasia or assisted suicide by an adult or a minor who has been diagnosed with an irreversible illness.
The measure was debated by the Luxemburg Parliament last December, but on that occasion the Grand Duke announced he would not sanction the measure. Consequently the anti-life Parliament passed a change to the Constitution to limit the Duke’s powers. Now Duke Henry I will not have to sanction laws for them to take effect, he will merely promulgate them.
Media reports at the time claimed the Grand Duke was repeating the crisis provoked in 1990 by his uncle, King Baldwin of Belgium, who refused to sign the legalization of abortion approved by the two Belgian legislative houses. Until now Holland and Belgium were the only two EU countries that allowed euthanasia under certain conditions.
