Italian writer becomes first to die under fast-track assisted suicide law
A Parkinson's-stricken writer in Tuscany has died through assisted suicide, challenging national inaction and igniting political tensions over euthanasia.
A writer suffering from Parkinson's disease has become the first to die through medically assisted suicide under a fast-track regional law in Italy, campaigners said Wednesday.
Daniele Pieroni died at home on May 17, three months after the new legislation was passed by regional authorities in Tuscany, the pro-euthanasia Luca Coscioni Association said.
Legislation not yet adopted
The Italian Constitutional Court ruled in September 2019 that assisted suicide was allowed for patients in certain circumstances.
But the national parliament has yet to adopt any legislation, which means that obtaining permission to die is difficult and can take years.
In February, Tuscany — ruled by the centre left — became the first of Italy's 20 regions to set out its own rules streamlining and speeding up the request process.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition is broadly against euthanasia and is challenging the Tuscan law in court.
But any decision on that will come too late to affect Pieroni's choice.
Pieroni living with Parkinson's for 16 years
Born in 1961, the writer had been suffering from Parkinson's disease since 2008 and was forced to use a feeding tube for 21 hours a day, the Luca Coscioni Association said in a statement.
ALSO READ: 'Let me die in peace': Assisted suicide goes to court
'The lethal drug was prepared at his home, which Daniele self-administered' in the presence of doctors and his family, the statement added.
It has called on other regions in the Catholic-majority country to follow Tuscany's lead.
'Too many people continue to suffer or emigrate to die with dignity,' said the association.
'We invite all regions to act to guarantee freedom and respect for people's wishes.'
ConCourt makes exception
Helping someone take their own life is technically illegal in Italy, punishable with between five and 12 years behind bars.
But the Constitutional Court made an exception for those facing an incurable illness causing 'intolerable' physical or psychological suffering, where they are kept alive by life-support treatments but remain capable of making 'free and informed decisions'.
Since the 2019 court ruling, eight people have committed medically assisted suicide in Italy, the association told AFP.
The first was a tetraplegic man, Federico Carboni, 44, from the Marche region, in June 2022.
NOW READ: Assisted suicide: Ultimate freedom for human beings?
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The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Italian writer becomes first to die under fast-track assisted suicide law
A Parkinson's-stricken writer in Tuscany has died through assisted suicide, challenging national inaction and igniting political tensions over euthanasia. A writer suffering from Parkinson's disease has become the first to die through medically assisted suicide under a fast-track regional law in Italy, campaigners said Wednesday. Daniele Pieroni died at home on May 17, three months after the new legislation was passed by regional authorities in Tuscany, the pro-euthanasia Luca Coscioni Association said. Legislation not yet adopted The Italian Constitutional Court ruled in September 2019 that assisted suicide was allowed for patients in certain circumstances. But the national parliament has yet to adopt any legislation, which means that obtaining permission to die is difficult and can take years. In February, Tuscany — ruled by the centre left — became the first of Italy's 20 regions to set out its own rules streamlining and speeding up the request process. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition is broadly against euthanasia and is challenging the Tuscan law in court. But any decision on that will come too late to affect Pieroni's choice. Pieroni living with Parkinson's for 16 years Born in 1961, the writer had been suffering from Parkinson's disease since 2008 and was forced to use a feeding tube for 21 hours a day, the Luca Coscioni Association said in a statement. ALSO READ: 'Let me die in peace': Assisted suicide goes to court 'The lethal drug was prepared at his home, which Daniele self-administered' in the presence of doctors and his family, the statement added. It has called on other regions in the Catholic-majority country to follow Tuscany's lead. 'Too many people continue to suffer or emigrate to die with dignity,' said the association. 'We invite all regions to act to guarantee freedom and respect for people's wishes.' ConCourt makes exception Helping someone take their own life is technically illegal in Italy, punishable with between five and 12 years behind bars. But the Constitutional Court made an exception for those facing an incurable illness causing 'intolerable' physical or psychological suffering, where they are kept alive by life-support treatments but remain capable of making 'free and informed decisions'. Since the 2019 court ruling, eight people have committed medically assisted suicide in Italy, the association told AFP. The first was a tetraplegic man, Federico Carboni, 44, from the Marche region, in June 2022. NOW READ: Assisted suicide: Ultimate freedom for human beings?
Daily Maverick
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The philanthropy of Bill Gates must be approached with caution
Bill Gates is soothing his $200-billion headache by giving his fortune away – most of it to Africa – over the next two decades. That means increasing Gates Foundation disbursements to $9-$10-billion annually, compared with $8-billion in 2024. This nearly trebles the foundation's average charitable outlay of about $3.4-billion each year since the Gates family got into philanthropy in 1994. The increase is astounding in absolute dollar terms, but when adjusted for past and future inflation, the purchasing power of the expanded Gates largesse (supplemented by Warren Buffett's substantial billions) just about keeps pace with the real value of their original benefactions. This is still the biggest philanthropic gift in modern history. But why is Mr Gates giving away 99% of his estimated $108-billion wealth? 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Gates is entitled to do what he wants with his private wealth. But this libertarian licence is somewhat conditioned by the thought that the Microsoft co-founder amassed his fortune thanks to people like you and me buying his products and services – 345 million of us contributed $211-billion in revenue in 2023 alone, giving us a legitimate stake in Gates' affairs. His philanthropic endeavours are also our business because of his outsized influence on public policy, particularly when this sways the choices nations make to affect the life chances of 44% of the world population. They are the world's poor (those living on less than $3.65 per day) living in 128 low- and middle-income nations. However, to put this in perspective, the Gates Foundation's projected outlay of $9-billion a year is small change compared with the $294-billion needed annually to close the financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) among the 48 developing economies covering three-quarters of the global population. Therefore, Gates' influence is not from money alone, but from how his powerful pulpit proselytises his heartfelt causes. This results in unease because of the distortionary consequences for country-level health and development. A narrow approach The causes dear to Mr Gates are: stopping preventable deaths among mothers and children; eliminating headline infectious diseases; and reducing poverty through education and agriculture. 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Motsoaledi defends spending R9m on lawyers, says health dept being sued on several fronts over NHI
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