First case of (legal) euthanasia in Spain
After a long process, euthanasia became a reality in Spain. The question is what the future of conscientious objectors will be. Photo AFP, Gabriel Bouys
Southern Europe
Eight months after legalising euthanasia, Spain has had the first case this week. Spanish media report about the 58-year-old patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Madrid.
Before he passed away, he said that he would "die for dignity", as El Pais is reporting.
The 58-year-old actually wanted to die much earlier. Still, the hospital in Madrid didn't have the necessary Guarantee and Evaluation Committee to decide about his request. That committee was installed on October 19th and decided within two weeks about the case.
The person died at this home but was assisted by a medical team from the hospital. He has been the first person in Madrid to be euthanised legally, a right recognised in the legislation since last June.
Conscientious objection
Now the committee is finally functioning, there is just "one more problem" for those who request euthanasia, El Pais reports: the conscientious objection of professionals. In Spain, many people working in medical care do not agree with the new legal euthanasia or the older legislation on abortion.
The law says (article 16) that it is "an individual decision of the health professional directly involved" to cooperate or not. The health institutions have to create a register of people with conscientious objections. But in no case should this objection block the assistance in dying.
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