China News Service, March 12. According to the European Union News Agency of Italy, on the 11th local time, the Italian National House of Representatives passed a bill on euthanasia, which will be transferred to the National Senate for consideration.

　　In February 2022, the Italian Constitutional Court blocked an attempt to hold a referendum on voluntary euthanasia, sending the euthanasia bill to the national legislature to decide.

　　According to reports, during the voting process of the Italian National House of Representatives, the euthanasia bill was finally passed with 253 votes in favor, 117 votes against and 1 abstention, thus giving the green light to the regulation on voluntary death under medical assistance.

　　The Euthanasia Act sets out the rules for the right to request medical assistance to end one's life voluntarily and independently, based on specific conditions and requirements.

The act also sets out how voluntary deaths with medical assistance must be carried out.

　　In addition, the draft law exempts doctors, health and administrators, and anyone who helps a patient during a medically assisted voluntary death procedure.

The law will only allow these patients to end their lives with drugs approved by medical staff.

They must also be of legal age, have the ability to understand, and be fully informed.

　　According to reports, the Italian euthanasia legal process motion was launched by the House of Representatives on December 13, 2021, and has been opposed by the right-wing forces in the parliament until the motion was passed.

　　Previously, under Italian law, anyone who helped another person to commit suicide faced between five and 12 years in prison.

The new bill follows a 2019 ruling by Italy's Constitutional Court that said some forms of euthanasia should not be illegal.

　　The court said "assisted suicide" would be permitted for terminally ill patients who were suffering from unbearable physical or psychological suffering and who depended on machines for life.

　　After the euthanasia bill is passed by the House of Representatives, the proposed legislation will go to the Italian Senate for a vote.

Finally, the President signs it before it becomes the law of the country.

(Huang Xin)