Slovenia legalizes assisted suicide

(Patria) - Slovenia yesterday legalized assisted suicide, which citizens supported in last year's referendum.

Parliament adopted the law with 50 votes "for" and 34 against, while three deputies abstained.

The law gives lucid patients suffering from incurable diseases and whose suffering or health condition is unbearable the right to end their lives, except in cases of mental illness.

It will also be applicable in cases where no recovery or improvement of the patient's health condition is expected from treatment.

All medical treatment options must be exhausted beforehand.

The right will not be usable in cases of unbearable suffering resulting from mental illness.

Euthanasia, i.e., death at the hands of a caregiver at the patient's request, remains prohibited.

In last year's referendum, 55 percent of voters supported the right to assisted suicide.

Switzerland and Austria have already allowed it, while the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg have approved euthanasia.