What it is

Proposal to decriminalize euthanasia and assisted suicide

Amendments step 3 of 7 · Unfinished

It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 10 August 2017. Introduced by: Comunidad Autónoma de Cataluña - Parlamento.

Official title: Organic Private member's bill to reform Organic Law 10/1995, of November 23, of the Penal Code, on the decriminalization of euthanasia and assistance in suicide.

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Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 125/000017· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

The bill would amend section 4 of Article 143 of the Criminal Code. Anyone who causes a peaceful, painless death, or helps to do so, would not face criminal liability if the person freely and clearly requests it and suffers a serious incurable illness with permanent physical or psychological suffering.
The proposal is based on the right to a dignified death and on personal freedom. It cites the experience of countries that already regulate euthanasia or assisted suicide, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada.
The text also calls for a future law guaranteeing personal autonomy and protecting vulnerable groups. That law should define the concepts, set conditions and requirements for patients and health workers, and create oversight and control bodies.

Who it affects

Health professionals: Could help a person die without facing criminal charges, within the legal framework to be established.
People who are seriously ill and in unbearable suffering: Could request help to die if they suffer a serious illness that will necessarily lead to death, or an incurable condition causing severe permanent suffering.
Health workers and oversight bodies: Would have to meet requirements in decision making and in their actions, under the future law the text proposes.

Words worth knowing

Eutanasia (euthanasia): Causing the death of a person who asks for it, to spare them suffering, through acts that directly cause death.
Suicidio médicamente asistido (medically assisted suicide): Providing a person the means to end their own life, with health care support.
Cuidados paliativos (palliative care): Health care that relieves the suffering of seriously ill patients without curing the underlying disease.
Voluntades anticipadas (advance directives): A document where a person states in writing which treatments they accept or refuse if they can no longer decide.
Proposición de ley (bill): A text through which a chamber or an autonomous community proposes a law; it is not a law until approved.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 3 of 7 steps. It reached Amendments, and today it is unfinished.

Introduced10 August 2017Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
Admitted5 September 2017The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
Amendments21 May 2018Groups propose changes.
Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.

See the 9 official steps on a timeline

10 May 2018

How did the plenary vote?

More votes in favour 175 yes · 136 no · 32 abst.

Voted on: Private member's bill by the Parliament of Catalonia, reforming Organic Law 10/1995, of November 23, on the Penal Code, decriminalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide (Organic).

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, vote 1 of sitting 115· updated 10 Nov

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Your province

How did the deputies from your province vote?

And your senators: the Senate does not link its votes to this law in its open data, so we cannot put them side by side here.

Or see how most of each province voted

More details: how each group and each province voted

The groups

Who voted in favour and who against?

In favour, most of Socialista, Vasco (EAJ-PNV), Mixto, Gcup-ec-em and GER. Against, most of Popular en el Congreso. 4 deputies voted differently from their group.

By province: in 20 most voted in favour; in 15, against.

Coloured by how most of each province’s deputies voted.

In favour: 20
Against: 15
Tie: 17

Result by parliamentary group
Group	Seats	How it voted
Socialista	84	83 in favour · 1 did not vote
Vasco (EAJ-PNV)	5	5 in favour
Mixto	19	14 in favour · 4 against · 1 did not vote
Ciudadanos	32	32 abst.
Gcup-ec-em	67	66 in favour · 1 did not vote
GER	9	7 in favour · 2 did not vote
Popular en el Congreso	134	132 against · 2 did not vote

What happens next

What happens now?

The legislature ended before it finished. To go on, someone would have to introduce it again in the new Cortes.

It was presented again:

XIII Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Unfinished· nearly the same title Proposición de Ley de reforma de la Ley Orgánica 10/1995, de 23 de noviembre, del Código Penal, de despenalización de la eutanasia y la…

Sources

Where does all this come from?

Congreso de los Diputados, file 125/000017
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.

Retrieved 11 November 2026
Congreso de los Diputados, vote 1 of sitting 115
The count and every seat’s vote.

Retrieved 10 November 2026

The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

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