As Eluana Dies, Euthanasia Debate Comes to Life
Although the NYT has a story today claiming that “Death ends coma case debate that set off furor in Italy,” the debate around Eluana Englaro’s case and euthanasia in general in Italy is just getting started.
Ms. Englaro had been in a coma for over fifteen years after an accident in 1992, but in recent weeks, her father had successfully moved her to a private clinic in Udine that agreed to remove her feeding tube. As soon as the issue hit the media, the Vatican reacted violently claiming that such action would be euthanasia, a practice illegal in Italy. The right-wing administration of Premier Silvio Berlusconi then first attempted to pass a decree preventing the removal of the feeding tube (until President Napolitano announced he would not sign it into law) and then drafted a four-line Senate bill that was being debated when Eluana suddenly died.
Although most Italian dailies are as of now focusing on whether or not there will be an autopsy to determine how she suddenly died (some Senators cried: “Murderers!” when the news was first reported during the debate session), the issue will quickly merge into a debate about euthanasia itself, where Italy has very different laws than other countries in Europe. If nothing more, it will be another opportunity for clash between Berlusconi’s conservative government, allied to the Vatican, and the leftist coalition in opposition.
In this case, convergence with the Northern European norm may never happen with a country with strong Catholic roots like Italy.
February 10, 2009 - 8:13 PM
