Andalucía approves dignified death law

Andalucía approves dignified death law
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By h.b. - Mar 18, 2010 - 7:47 AM

Immaculada Echeverría who asked for her ventilator to be disconnected in Granada in 2007 - EFE

Andalucía has approved Spain’s first law on dignity in death, with the legislation obtaining cross party support in the Sevilla chamber on Wednesday.

The law, called La Ley de Derechos y Garantías de la Dignidad de las Personas en el Proceso de la Muerte allows for a patient to refuse a treatment which will artificially prolong his or her life.

It clears the doctors’ obligation of having to give treatment in such cases, and applies both in public and private hospitals and clinics, including those of religious character.
Many have applauded the legislation as brave and necessary, while others say the law is merely ‘conceptual’.

The Partido Popular supported the legislation but voted against three of the articles wanting to give health professionals the option of objecting because of conscience, something the legislation does not grant.

Some judicial experts say that such a law by its nature needs to be a national one, and clear recommendations still have to come from ethics committees.

(health story)

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