(ANSA) - BOLZANO, OCTOBER 23 - The Austrian government has reached an agreement on assisted suicide: the new law will come into force in 2022. Last December the Constitutional Court of Vienna declared the punishment of assisted suicide unconstitutional. The crime - so the Supreme Court - was in contrast with the right to self-determination. The new regulatory framework had to be established by 1 January 2022, otherwise assisted suicide would have been legal without particular pallets.
As agreed by Oevp and Verdi, terminal patients and those suffering from very serious pathologies without the possibility of healing will be able to receive a lethal drug through pharmacies. Minors are explicitly excluded. At the same time, the network of palliative centers will be expanded.
The application must be submitted to a notary or the patients' ombudsman.
Two medical consultations are needed, one of which must be specialized in palliative care.
The patient's ability to intend to evolve must also be documented.
In the event that one of the two doctors has doubts, a psychiatrist or psychologist must also be involved.
There is also a minimum time span of twelve weeks.
In the case of terminal patients in the last stage, the waiting period can exceptionally be reduced to two weeks.
(HANDLE).