An Italian doctor who switched off the life support of a terminally ill patient who wanted to die was cleared of charges of "consensual murder" on Monday.
A Rome court found that the 60-year-old muscular dystrophy patient, Piergiorgio Welby, had the right to refuse artificial respiration and therefore anaesthetist Mario Riccio had no case to answer.
"Today it has been confirmed what I already knew -- that a patient can refuse treatment, even lifesaving treatment," Riccio said as he left the courtroom.
The Welby case divided Italian society even before his death in December 2006 after the paralysed man was pictured on television appealing for his life to be ended.
The Catholic Church, which opposes euthanasia, refused Welby a religious burial but his supporters hailed him as a hero and are pushing the government for a change in the law to at least allow patients to make a 'living will' that can express their wish to stop therapy.
"I am happy, it's what I expected," said Welby's widow, Mina. "Now I hope that parliament can do something in the name of my husband."
Only Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium and the U.S. state of Oregon permit assisted suicide for the terminally ill.
-
The dire American political situation: a brief overview for faithful Christians in Britain
-
Conversion therapy ban supporters want prayer to be criminalised - this must not be allowed
-
Why the US election results do not bode well for America
-
Police appeal for witnesses after head smashed off Jesus statue at church war memorial
-
Are we seeing the end of Western civilisation?
-
Christian group sees increasing openness to Christianity among politicians
Most Popular
related articles
Christians and Muslims Unite at Pro-Life Conference
The Bishop of Pontefract joined a group of pro-life campaigners last Saturday, in a conference organised by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) and The Indian Muslim Welfare Society.
Pope Calls for Believers to Reject Abortion & Euthanasia
The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has re-emphasised his call for Catholics everywhere to reject abortion and euthanasia. The Pope said Sunday 4 February that life was something given by God, and was not to be cut short under the "guise of human compassion".
Fresh Legal Battle Sparks Euthanasia Debate
The debate over euthanasia and assisted-dying has come to the public eye once again after reports that a 30-year-old terminally ill woman is set to commence a legal battle to force doctors to allow her to die.
US Euthanasia Debate Resurfaces after Man Regains Consciousness
A US Gulf War veteran who was set to die in an Arizona hospital in a controversial euthanasia case regained complete consciousness on Tuesday.
When to Let Go? Medicine's Top Dilemma
A terminal leukaemia patient must have daily blood transfusions or die. A family begs doctors to do everything possible to keep their elderly mother alive. Parents cannot accept their newborn baby will not survive.
News
Calls for inquiry into Queensland assisted suicide system
Despite the rise in deaths, the watering down of safeguards has been proposed.
Justin Welby says government reparations for slavery a ‘moral evil’
Welby was supportive of Project Spire during his time as Archbishop of Canterbury.
South Sudanese churches work for peace as tensions mount
South Sudan is the world's youngest sovereign nation.
Alister McGrath: New Atheism has ‘tanked’
“I am seeing a growth in young people wanting to talk about Christianity."
