The Portuguese Parliament approved the legalisation of euthanasia. The euthanasia practiced in the country or helped by health professionals in the country was approved with 136 votes of deputies in favour and 78 against, in addition to four abstentions. As per the new bill, an individual aged over 18 can be medically assisted in death "whose will is current and reiterated, serious, free and enlightened, in a situation of intolerable suffering, with a definite injury of extreme severity in accordance with scientific consensus or incurable and fatal disease".
It also allows the doctors and nurses provision to refuse to assist in euthanasia due to "conscientious objection" will now go to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who may veto, send it to the Constitutional Court or even promulgate directly. If President promulgates, Portugal will become the fourth country in Europe and the seventh in the world to legalise euthanasia.
"Stop Euthanasia" movement which protest against this law said, "At a time when thousands of people, countless institutions, in a daily superhuman effort, care for the sick and vulnerable and fragile people, giving everything to save lives, the approval of euthanasia represents disrespect for all these people". The largest organised religion in the country, Catholic's church the Portuguese Episcopal Conference protested against the approval in Parliament. In addition, 12 private health care institutions called for an intervention by the President to prevent the legalisation of euthanasia.
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