Slovenians to decide in referendum whether to allow 'voluntary suicide' for patients

(Patria) - Polling stations opened across Slovenia this morning at 7 AM. A legislative referendum is being held today, where around 1.7 million eligible voters can decide whether to enact the Law on Assisted Voluntary End of Life, which was adopted by the National Assembly in mid-July.

The law would grant an adult patient, capable of making decisions independently, the right to voluntarily end their life, but only under strict conditions:

Suffering: If they are suffering unbearably due to a severe incurable disease or other permanent health impairment.

Treatment: If treatment options have been exhausted or if treatment does not offer a reasonable expectation of improvement.

Exclusion: The right will not be available due to unbearable suffering that is a reflection of mental illness.

Procedure: The patient independently administers the active substance for voluntary termination of life, after their request is approved by a special commission.

The law will be rejected in the referendum if the majority of voters are against it, and a quorum for rejection is also achieved, meaning that just over 339 thousand voters must vote against the law.

Polling stations are open until 7 PM.
The first unofficial results will begin to be published after 7:30 PM.
During early voting, 35,730 voters, or 2.11 percent of all eligible voters, used this option.
The final outcome of the vote will be determined by December 11th at the latest.