Campania advances regional law on medically assisted suicide

Luca Trapanese, vice‑president of the Campania regional council and member of the Five Star Movement, has re‑introduced a seven‑article proposal to regulate medically assisted suicide in the region. The draft follows the 2019 Constitutional Court ruling (Cappato) and seeks to set clear procedures, timelines and a permanent multidisciplinary commission to verify patient eligibility. It also earmarks a modest budget of about €10,000 for instruction and implementation, with all costs covered by the regional health service.

The proposal, drafted with technical support from the Luca Coscioni Association and signed by several regional councillors, mirrors models already adopted in Tuscany and Sardinia. Trapanese cites a personal experience with a young man suffering from multiple sclerosis as a motivating factor, emphasizing the need to respect dignity and reduce bureaucratic delays for terminal patients. The regional government aims to bring the bill to a council vote by summer, seeking cross‑party consensus.

If passed, the law would not create a new right but would operationalise existing constitutional guidance, defining responsibilities for local health authorities and safeguarding against abuse while ensuring that end‑of‑life care remains humane and accessible.