Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit their pains and suffering. Portugal now joins Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain to allow euthanasia for people suffering terminal illnesses.
The Portuguese parliament has voted to allow euthanasia in limited circumstances. Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit their pains and suffering. Portugal now joins Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain to allow euthanasia for people suffering terminal illnesses.
The law is only legal for citizens and legal residents who are aged over 18 years and are mentally fit to make the decisions. The patients must really be suffering unbearable pains to be considered for euthanasia in Portugal.
The bill was introduced to the Portuguese parliament 3 years ago and only became successful on the fifth attempt. The parliament had previously approved the legislation but were strongly opposed by the conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
For several Catholics the legalization is a great setback as Portugal has a large population of Catholics. Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church has voiced out his disappointment and is deeply saddened by the legalization.
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