.- The
Socialist government in Spain has decided not to use an upcoming reform
of the country’s Penal Code to legalize euthanasia, according to
Minister of Justice, Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar. The
announcement came as left-wing lawmakers restarted debate on the issue
in the wake of an apparent assisted suicide by a severely handicapped
man.
According to the
ABC newspaper, before the announcement, the country’s Health Minister,
Elena Salgado, had indicated there was not a consensus in Spain on the
legalization of euthanasia. “This is a debate that should not
take place at this time,” she said.
Writer Lopez
Aguilar emphasized that the government considers “sufficient” the
consensus achieved in 1995, when Spain’s laws on health care were
relaxed to allow for the omission of treatments that are “beyond what
is humanly possible to bear.”
The Justice
Minister said that while the government will move ahead with its plan
to reform the Penal Code, it will not seek any changes in the laws
referring to euthanasia. It will, however, seek to bolster “the
will and autonomy” of patients in other areas, such as palliative care,
cases of terminal illness or informed consent in order to receive
certain treatments.
Left-wing lawmakers said they intended to present a bill that would regulate euthanasia and the “right” to death with dignity.
Spanish Minister of Justice says government will not seek legalization of euthanasia…for now
Related news
- Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, British religious authorities urge Parliament against euthanasia bill.
- Spanish pro-euthanasia association admits to ‘helping’ handicapped man die
- Archbishop Smith calls for stronger opposition to proposal to legalize euthanasia
- Assisted suicide allowed in Swiss hospital as of Jan. 1
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