Type: Other

Authority: National Courts: Merit's Courts (Italy) - Corte di Appello di Milano

Date: 12/16/2006

Subject: Also in the light of the case-law of the Court of Strasbourg - which puts particular emphasis on the need to defend life as a supreme good - the existence of a "right to die" is not acceptable. Therefore, should there be no former intention by the patient - now in a persisting vegetative state - in favour of the interruption of medical treatment, the instance of his guardian must, in this case, be rejected. Instead, as provided by the right to self-determination in the health field, a legally capable person can refuse even a treatment which is necessary to keep him alive.

Original language: Italian

Classification: Art. 2 Right to life - Art. 3 Informed consent

Text