Tuscany Governor Eugenio Giani declared on Friday that the region will strongly defend its pioneering end-of-life law in the face of a legal challenge from Italy’s centre-right government.
Giani criticized the national government’s move, calling it “paradoxical” for opposing a regional initiative that aims to address a legal vacuum identified by Italy’s Constitutional Court on medically assisted suicide.
“Instead of working toward a long-overdue national law, the government is targeting those who are acting responsibly and within the legal framework,” Giani stated. “We are confident our law respects the Constitution, the legal standards, and—most importantly—the dignity of individuals.”
Tuscany’s law is the first of its kind in Italy and has been hailed by right-to-die advocates as a crucial step in aligning the country’s healthcare system with fundamental human rights.