On Thursday 14th December Italian lawmakers passed a law to allow living wills and the Refusal of End-of-Life Care. The law just approved permits Italians to write living wills and refuse medical treatment, artificial nutrition and hydration, without the possibility of conscience objection.
“Norme in materia di consenso informato e di disposizioni anticipate di trattamento” (the italian title of the law) has been approved by 180 votes to 71, with six abstentions, by the Italian Senate. The result gave the final green light to a measure that passed the Lower House in April.
“It has been definitely a sad day” has told cardinal Camillo Ruini, former President of CEI, Italian Bishop Conference, in accordance with the line of Pope Francis and Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, present President of CEI.
Many voices among the catholic world, among associations, among health operators, jurists, are aroused against this law, approved without the appropriate/right debate.
Put nutrition and hydration, that is feeding and drinking, as a care treatment, a medicine, and not as a normal care, it has been a serious decision.
For many right-to-die advocates the law on living wills is a starting point for the infinitely tougher battle to allow terminally ill Italians to end their lives at home with medical support.
So this law would be an open door to euthanasia.
Among the voices who has condemned this measure I would like to quote that one from mons. Giampaolo Crepaldi, Archibishop of Trieste because of his clearness and clarity.
With this legislation “that open to euthanasia, in a more pronounced shape then in others countries (…) has prevailed…a nichilistic ideology…So Italy will meet a dark future founded/built on a distressed freedom without hope” has observed the Archibishop.
“Freedom understood as self determination, that this legislation affirm and absolutize, is not able to gather nothing and no one not even the individual with himself. It trouble very much that (…) unfavourable laws [ndr against family and life] has been approved in a context of a remarkable indifference. I express my pleasure and support to all those who has worked/mobilized (…) to lead/take this battle for the good of the human being” has observed Mons. Crepaldi.
The prelate has underlined that a part of the catholic world “evaded the engagement to defend values so fundamental for the person probably afraid to create/make walls rather than bridges. But bridges who are not built on truth does not last/hold”.
“In period like this could prevail a feeling of discouragement. It’s understandable…This bad laws approved will produce suffering for people …In the same time we have to remember that history keep/remain open to new way and solutions and new possibilities of recovery and redemption will be offered to us…Do not forget the there is history, but there is also the Lord of history. We trust in him to be ready for new opportunities that God will put before us” has concluded Mons. Crepaldi.
