A draft law to decriminalise euthanasia received initial approval last week in the Spanish Parliament. It would allow people who are not terminally ill to avail of assisted suicide. In a vote on whether to allow the bill to proceed in the 350-seat parliament, 203 lawmakers voted in favor, 140 against and two abstained.
It was proposed by the Governing, left-wing coalition led by the PSOE party, and opposed by the Conservative Popular Party, the regional Navarra Suma, and the right-wing Vox.
The Bill, inspired by the Dutch and Belgian model, proposes that those who suffer a serious and incurable or disabling illness, with unbearable suffering could ask for euthanasia. First, the patient and a doctor will have to agree, afterwards a second medical opinion is needed, then the patient will have to confirm his decision two weeks later, and 15 days later it can be made. The process will not last more than a month.
The law would also foresee the creation of a Commission for Control and Evaluation in each region, in addition to a registry of health professionals who opt out as conscientious objectors.
The draft law must now go through the Health Commission, go back again to the Parliament and, finally, to the Senate, a process that could be resolved before summer.
