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(REUTERS): Portugal’s parliament today (Friday) voted to legalized euthanasia, with the country set to become the seventh in the world to allow terminally ill patients to seek assistance from a doctor to end their life.
The bill now goes to the head of state to sign into law. However, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a moderate conservative, opposes the measure. He could send it back for further review by lawmakers or call for a ruling from the Constitutional Court.
According to the draft, people aged over 18 will be allowed to request assistance in dying if they are terminally ill and suffering from ‘lasting’ and ‘unbearable’ pain – unless they are deemed not to be mentally fit to make such a decision.
It passed with 136 votes in favor, 78 against and four abstentions. The process will only be open to national citizens and legal residents in order to prevent people from travelling to Portugal to get medical help to end their life.
Rui Rio, leader of the main center-right opposition, also backed legalization, but the majority of his party voted against, together with the Communists, a small conservative party and the single far-right member.
In a letter to parliament, two groups managing the majority of Portugal’s care homes, said: “The approval of euthanasia represents a disrespect for all these people”.
Portugal, a Catholic-majority country, has since made strides in liberal reforms upholding human rights. It legalised abortions in 2007 and allowed same-sex marriage in 2010.
