Advancing in Rights. At Last, an Act on Euthanasia

Abstract

On December 17th, 2020, Spanish Congress approved the proposed law to regulate euthanasia. The following references serves as historical antecedents: resolution of the UN General Assembly that approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950, the Spanish Constitution of 1978. More recently, the Basic Law regulating patient autonomy and rights and obligations of 2002. The case of the Severo Ochoa Hospital, which tried to guarantee care in the final phase of life, highlighted the need to regularize a dignified death. Different Autonomous Communities (CCAA) enacted laws of rights and guarantees in this sense, known as laws of dignified death. Surveys carried out in recent years showed that the citizens’ will is favorable towards regulation of euthanasia. Palliative care and euthanasia are not opposed concepts nor they are alternative options.