Euthanasia becomes legal in Spain, with safeguards

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The law recognizes the right of every person who meets the requirements to request and receive the necessary help to die, and it regulates the procedure and safeguards for doing so.
2. People of legal age who are capable, who have Spanish nationality or legal residence in Spain (or have been registered as residents for more than twelve months), and who suffer a serious and incurable illness or a serious, chronic and disabling condition may request it in writing twice, at least fifteen calendar days apart.
3. The responsible physician must inform the patient, consult a second physician who verifies the case, and report the procedure to the Guarantee and Evaluation Commission, which checks it beforehand and monitors it afterward. The patient may withdraw the request at any time.
4. The service is included in the common portfolio of services of the National Health System, with public funding, and can be provided in public, private or contracted centers, or at home. Health professionals may refuse on grounds of conscientious objection, declared in writing.
5. Each Autonomous Community and the Cities of Ceuta and Melilla must create a Guarantee and Evaluation Commission, with at least seven members including physicians, nurses and jurists, which handles complaints, verifies cases and publishes an annual report.
6. The Penal Code is amended so that anyone who causes or actively cooperates in the death of another person while complying with this law bears no criminal liability. In addition, death from this service is legally considered a natural death.

Who it affects

• People with a serious and incurable illness or a serious, chronic and disabling condition: They can request and receive help to die if they meet the requirements.
• Health professionals: They have defined duties and may refuse on grounds of conscientious objection, declared in writing.
• Public health services and private or contracted centers: They must guarantee the service, including at home, and protect patients' privacy and data.
• Autonomous Communities and the Cities of Ceuta and Melilla: They must create Guarantee and Evaluation Commissions to oversee the application of the law.

Words worth knowing

Cartera común de servicios

The list of health services the National Health System offers to everyone.

Objeción de conciencia

The right of a professional not to perform an action that goes against their personal beliefs.

Instrucciones previas

A document in which a person states in advance what care they do or do not want if they later cannot decide for themselves.

Cuidados paliativos

Treatments meant to relieve suffering and improve quality of life, without curing the illness.

Jurisdicción contencioso-administrativa

The courts that review decisions made by public administrations.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries