Veneto approves law regulating medically assisted suicide

The Veneto Regional Council has approved a law regulating the procedures and timelines for medically assisted suicide within the regional healthcare system. Promoted by the Associazione Luca Coscioni as a popular initiative, the measure makes Veneto the fourth Italian region to establish such a framework, joining Tuscany, Sardinia, and Emilia-Romagna.

The law distinguishes between euthanasia, where a medical professional administers the lethal dose, and medically assisted suicide, where the patient self-administers a prescribed drug. While active euthanasia remains illegal in Italy, the Constitutional Court has previously ruled that assisted suicide is not punishable under specific conditions.

The approval of this measure marks a significant political shift in the region, as it was passed with a clear majority despite opposition from members of Fratelli d’Italia and abstentions from Forza Italia. The move by the regional administration, led by President Luca Zaia, stands in contrast to the central government's position regarding the division of competencies between the State and the Regions.