Spain legalises euthanasia, assisted suicide; 4th European nation to do so

Spain’s Parliament on Thursday voted to legalise euthanasia, the practice of assisted suicide, becoming one of the few nations, and fourth European nations that have allowed terminally-ill or gravely-injured patients to end their own suffering. Apart from Spain, in Europe, Euthanasia is legal in Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Under the law, euthanasia will be permitted in Spain, in which medical staff can intentionally end a life to relieve suffering, and assisted suicide in which it is the patient who carries out the procedure.

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The law, which legalises euthanasia, was drafted following public pressure generated after several cases, especially that of Ramon Sampedro, whose plight was immortalised in the Oscar-winning 2004 film “The Sea Inside”. A priority for Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government, the law was passed by 202 in favour, while 141 voted against it and two were absent in the 350-seat chamber. 

A similar law was passed in Portugal in January, however, it was blocked by the Constitutional Court this week. 

After the law was passed, the Spanish PM Sanchez tweeted, “Today we have become a country that is more humane, fairer and freer. The euthanasia law, widely demanded by society, has finally become a reality.”

“Thanks to all the people who have fought tirelessly for the right to die with dignity to be recognised in Spain,” he wrote.

Various other countries permit assisted suicide as well as “passive euthanasia” in which life-saving medical treatment is halted.