Overview
- The regional assembly passed the law after a long session, making Emilia‑Romagna the third Italian region to adopt a statute on medically assisted suicide.
- Supporters from PD, Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra, Civici and M5S backed the bill while Fratelli d'Italia, Forza Italia, Lega and Rete Civica voted against it.
- The law sets up a multidisciplinary evaluation commission called CoVam, requires patients be told about alternatives including palliative care, and makes the procedure free.
- Recent amendments require the first medical visit at the patient’s location, allow hearings of people the patient names, limit related tasks to volunteer staff and mandate an annual legislative review.
- Backed by the Luca Coscioni ‘Liberi Subito’ initiative, the measure may prompt similar regional laws, possible legal challenges over state competence, and calls for national legislation to avoid a patchwork of rules.