The law that allows people with an incurable disease to “leave” without suffering has been in force in Spain for a year
One year after the law came into force, about 180 euthanasias have been performed in Spain, one of the few countries in the world that allows a patient suffering from an incurable disease to end his life without suffering.
“To date, about 180 euthanasia has been performed since this law entered into force (June 25, 2021)“180 people we helped to die with dignity”, said today the Spanish Minister of Health Carolina Dariasin a press conference he gave on the occasion of this anniversary.
Spain is the fourth European country to decriminalized euthanasia, after the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
The Minister welcomed this “new health benefit to the health system (…) that allows access with greater guarantee to one of the most valuable things in life: dignity, freedom and autonomy of will” and that makes Spain ” a more dignified society “.
Daria also mentioned that these 180 euthanasia resulted in 68 transplants, thanks to 22 donors.
Spain is a world champion in organ donation, a first that has lasted for more than 30 years.
The Socialist government had prioritized this law passed by Parliament in March 2021, which allows both euthanasia (when the treating physician causes the death of the patient) and medical assisted suicide (when the patient receives the dose of the drug prescribed to end his own life).
The law stipulates that anyone with a “serious and incurable disease” or “chronic pain that puts them in a state of disability” can seek help from the medical body to die and thus avoid “unbearable pain”.
However, strict conditions govern the procedure: the person, a Spaniard or a resident of the country, must have a “conscience” when submitting the request, which must be made in writing “without outside pressure” and resubmitted fifteen days later.
The doctor may reject this request if he / she deems that these criteria are not met. In addition, the request must be approved by another doctor and given the green light by an evaluation committee.
This law had divided public opinion in Spain and provoked reactions from right-wing parties and the Catholic Church.
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