The Spanish Parliament has approved the legalization of euthanasia. In the final vote in the House of Representatives today, a clear majority of 202 MPs voted for the corresponding law, 141 voted against, two MPs abstained.
After the law came into force in June, people with a “serious and incurable” illness or “chronic”, severely debilitating pain can, if they so wish, receive euthanasia in order to avoid “unbearable suffering”.
Introduced by minority government
With this law „we are moving closer to a more humane and just society“, said Minister of Health Carolina Darias, referring to „the people who are in a situation of great suffering and their families“. The draft law was introduced by the socialist minority government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
In Europe, Spain is the fourth country after the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg in which active euthanasia, i.e. killing on demand, is permitted. The parliament in Portugal had voted in favor of legalizing euthanasia at the end of January, but the constitutional court demanded improvements to the law on Monday.
