Right to Die — Italian Style

The Italian version of the Terri Schiavo situation has come to an end with the death of Eluana Englaro.

Here is a summary of the facts based on AP, Italian woman in right-to-die debate dies, Newsmeat.com, Feb. 9, 2009:

• Eluana Englaro was in a car accident 17 years ago.
• Since the accident, Eluana has been in a vegetative state.
• After fighting for approximately 10 years, Eluana’s father (Beppino Englaro) obtained court permission to remove her feeding tube.
• On February 6, 2009, food and water was withheld.
• The Italian government, with backing from the Vatican, feverishly worked on legislation to prohibit the removal of food and water.
• Before the legislation could be enacted, Eluana died on February 9, 2009, not from starvation or dehydration, but rather from cardiac arrest.
• Italian legislators indicate they will continue to press forward with the legislation even though it is too late to save Eluana.
• Note that Italian law does not permit its citizens to give advance directions as to the treatment they want if they are unable to state their wishes (i.e., no medical powers of attorney and no living wills).