Sardinia Towards a Law on Medically Assisted Suicide

Sardinia is set to become the second Italian region to consider a law on medically assisted suicide. The Regional Council has started the legislative process for the proposal of the Luca Coscioni Association, which aims to guarantee fundamental rights for people with terminal illnesses. This initiative, supported by a broad political spectrum, was presented in the sixth Health Commission, chaired by Carla Fundoni of the Democratic Party.

The hearings and the testimonies

The hearings began with the testimony of Filomena Gallo, national secretary of the Luca Coscioni Association. Gallo stressed the importance of establishing certain timeframes for responses to requests for assisted suicide, highlighting that currently patients can wait from six months to three years for the necessary checks. This wait can be unbearable for those experiencing intolerable suffering, and in some cases, patients are unable to receive responses before dying.

The regulatory environment and legal challenges

The proposed law in Sardinia differs from national legislation, as it focuses exclusively on the responsibilities of health companies in responding to requests from patients. Gallo clarified that the Constitutional Court, with the Cappato ruling, has already established that the Regions have the power to legislate on health matters. Despite the Tuscan government's challenge to the law, the lawyer is confident that the legislative process in Sardinia will not be compromised. The proposed law aims to guarantee the right to medically assisted suicide, a right recognized by the Constitutional Court in 2019, but which still awaits a specific law from Parliament.