Latest news with #LucaCoscioniAssociation
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Writer first to die under Italy fast-track assisted suicide law
AFP | Rome 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 yesterday. 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. 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. 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. '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.' 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'.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Health
- 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?
Local Italy
3 days ago
- Health
- Local Italy
Italian writer first to die under Tuscany's assisted suicide law
Pieroni, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, died at his home on Saturday, May 17th, the pro-euthanasia Luca Coscioni Association said on Wednesday. Pieroni's death came over three months after a landmark right-to-die bill was passed by Tuscany's authorities. The Italian Constitutional Court ruled in September 2019 that assisted suicide was allowed for patients 'kept alive by life-support treatments and suffering from an irreversible condition" as long as the condition caused 'physical and psychological suffering' considered 'intolerable". At the time, the court urged parliament to pass a law to provide a clear legal framework setting out the circumstances in which assisted suicide was possible. But the invitation went unheeded, with multiple consecutive governments sidestepping the issue. This means that patients looking to resort to assisted suicide in Italy often wait years before being granted permission by national health authorities. In February, Tuscany became the first of Italy's 20 regions to set out its own right-to-die rules, streamlining and speeding up the request process. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government is strongly opposed to euthanasia and is currently challenging Tuscany's bill in court. But any court decision on the matter will come too late to affect Pieroni's choice. 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. Pieroni 'self-administered" a lethal drug in the presence of doctors and his family, it added. The Luca Coscioni Association 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," the association said. "We invite all regions to act to guarantee freedom and respect for people's wishes." Since the 2019 Constitutional Court ruling, eight people have committed medically assisted suicide in Italy. The first was Federico Carboni, 44, from the central Marche region, in June 2022.
