Euthanasia in Spain still seems difficult
Protesters hold a placard reading "Government of death" during a demonstration against a law legalising euthanasia. image AFP, Javier Soriano
Southern Europe
Spain officially approved their euthanasia law. The implementation of this legislation however, could be difficult.
The Spanish care system is organised through seventeen autonomous communities. These communities are responsible for carrying out the new legislation.
However, some of the more conservative regions have serious doubts about the legislation of euthanasia, which was accepted by parliament in March 2021. All regions have to set up reviewing committees within a few months. There is no guarantee that all regions appoint committee members who are willing to carry out the legislation. Some media say that "euthanasia tourism" is a possibility.
The conservatives see the rising numbers of euthanasia in the Netherlands as a bad example. The Spanish news site El Indepentiente writes this.
Spain is the fifth country in the world with a liberal euthanasia law. When there is unbearable suffering without the prospect of improvement it is now allowed by law to ‘help’ the patient dying.
