The Congress of Deputies of Spain, the lower house of the country’s parliament, voted to legalize euthanasia. The corresponding bill was supported by 198 out of 350 legislators, according to El Pais.
It is assumed that terminally ill patients, as well as people with incurable chronic diseases that bring them unbearable mental or physical suffering, will receive the right to arbitrarily end their lives with the help of doctors.
The bill assumes that an adult citizen of the country or a person with a residence permit can submit a request for euthanasia. He will be required to confirm his decision at least four times, and he will have the right to withdraw the application or ask for an extension at any time. Each case will be monitored by a special commission.
The draft has not yet been adopted – after the adoption by the Congress of Deputies, it will be discussed in the Senate, the upper house of the Spanish legislative body. If adopted, it will come into effect in the first half of 2021.
At the end of October it was reported that the majority of the population supported the legalization of euthanasia in the referendum New Zealand. This decision will take effect by the end of next year.