Proposed law to regulate euthanasia in Spain

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would recognize the right of any person who meets the requirements to request and receive aid in dying, and defines two possible forms: a health professional directly administering a substance, or prescribing or supplying it so the patient can self-administer it.
2. People with Spanish nationality or legal residence in Spain who are of legal age and suffer a serious and incurable illness, or a serious, chronic and disabling condition with intolerable suffering, could request the aid. Two written requests would be needed, at least fifteen calendar days apart, plus informed consent before receiving it.
3. The procedure would include a deliberative process with the responsible physician, a second report from a consulting physician, and prior review by a Control and Evaluation Commission. The patient could withdraw the request or ask for a postponement at any time.
4. The service would be included in the common portfolio of services of the National Health System, with public funding, and could be provided in public, private or contracted centers, or at the patient's home. Health professionals could refuse on grounds of conscientious objection, stating it in writing in advance.
5. A Control and Evaluation Commission would be created in each autonomous community and in Ceuta and Melilla. It would handle appeals, verify that the service was provided according to the law, and publish an annual report.
6. The bill would amend the Criminal Code so that a physician's conduct causing or cooperating in the death of a person in the established cases would not be punishable, and would provide that death resulting from aid in dying is considered a natural death for all purposes.

Who it affects

• People with a serious and incurable illness or a serious, chronic and disabling condition: Could request and receive aid in dying if they meet the requirements.
• Health professionals: Would carry out the service and could refuse on grounds of conscientious objection.
• Public health services and private or contracted centers: Would have to guarantee access to the service and provide it in their facilities.
• Autonomous communities and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla: Would have to create control and evaluation commissions.
• Family members and close persons: Could submit the request on behalf of someone with de facto incapacity who left prior instructions.

Words worth knowing

Eutanasia (euthanasia)

Act of ending a person's life, at that person's express will, to spare them suffering.

Consentimiento informado (informed consent)

The patient's free, voluntary and conscious agreement after receiving adequate information.

Cuidados paliativos (palliative care)

Treatments that relieve physical or psychological suffering, even if they may hasten death.

Instrucciones previas (advance directives)

A document in which a person states in writing their wishes about future health care, in case they can no longer decide.

Objeción de conciencia sanitaria (conscientious objection in health care)

The individual right of health professionals to not perform health care actions that conflict with their beliefs.

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