The Italian Constitutional Court rejected on Tuesday February 15 a request for a referendum on the decriminalization of assisted suicide, judging that the most vulnerable people were not sufficiently protected.
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Proponents of the right to die in Italy have tried to provoke the organization of a referendum on this controversial subject in a predominantly Catholic country where the opposition is strong.
They had collected 750,000 signatures last August, well above the minimum required.
In announcing its decision, the court explained in a statement that the proposed referendum would not guarantee "
the minimum protection of human life in general, and in particular of the weak and vulnerable
", thus violating the constitution.
Five to twelve years in prison
Current Italian law states that anyone who helps someone commit suicide faces five to 12 years in prison.
In 2019, the Constitutional Court had asked parliament to clarify its law on assisted suicide, considering that euthanasia was permitted for terminally ill patients suffering from “
unbearable
” physical or psychological pain and kept alive by machines.
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Euthanasia would undermine the trust that exists between patients and doctors
”
These patients must nevertheless be able to make “
free and informed decisions
”, according to the court.
Anyone who does not fall into this category has no legal recourse for assisted suicide in the country.
Despite several high-profile stories in recent years, opposition to assisted suicide is strong in Italy, where the Catholic Church is very influential.
After the Constitutional Court announcement, the leaders of the Democratic Party and the 5 Star Movement, both members of Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government coalition, called on parliament to finally settle the issue with a proper law .
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