Citizens group sends an open letter to Madeiran deputies in Lisbon on euthanasia

Today, 17 February, a group of citizens residing in Madeira sent an open letter to the six Deputies in the Assembly of the Republic of the Madeira circle, expressing their deep concern about the legislative process surrounding the legislative proposals that aim to decriminalize the euthanasia / assisted death.

More than one hundred elements from the most varied professions, age groups, ideological and religious conceptions have come together to echo their concerns with the deputies they elected to the Assembly of the Republic.

Considering that these Madeiran parliamentarians were elected by parties that did not include this theme in their electoral programs, nor did they address the issue in campaign actions, these citizens of Madeiran civil society urge the deputies to “clarify their position on the proposed laws in due time. concerned, with the Madeiran population ”.

In the open letter sent to Lisbon, the group of citizens recalls four essential points, namely:

1. “The Ordem dos Médicos through its Chairman, repeatedly manifested itself against the proposed bills on euthanasia / assisted death, considering that the proposals“ violate ethical and deontological principles ”and“ do not fit into the practice of medicine.

2. The experience of the legalization of euthanasia in other countries has shown that once opened, this is a door that leads to a sliding ramp, be it due to the number of cases that increases exponentially, as well as in legal terms with the systematic extension of the admissibility criteria for the practice of euthanasia / assisted death.

3. In view of the socio-economic reality of Portugal – a country where almost 40 thousand elderly people live alone or isolated; where only one in four adults has access to palliative care; where 71.4% of pensioners live with a pension of 421 euros or less – it is impossible to guarantee that these will not be the determining factors in a decision to euthanize.

4. The Constitution of the Portuguese Republic provides in its Article 24 that “Human life is inviolable”. Placing on third parties – health professionals, NHS and the State – the burden of executing the end of a life does not constitute an individual right, but rather a serious resignation of the State’s own function in complying with Article 24 ”.

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