As Italy debates euthanasia and assisted suicide laws, euronews spoke to Filomena Gallo, Secretary of the Luca Coscioni Association.

Debora Gandini, euronews:

“How is the ‘living will’ law going?”

Filomena Gallo:

“The ‘living will’ law should have been discussed today in the Italian parliament, but there was another, one-week, postponement. The law will be discussed in the lower chamber at the beginning of March.”

Euronews:

Why is there this delay? Why is the battle over rights still at square one?

Filomena Gallo:

“Unfortunately I think it’s down to a lack of political will to give Italy a law that respects the wishes of the citizens and their advanced healthcare directive. In most cases, it is up to the judge to decide on the suspension of care and the sedation of a patient.”

Euronews:

“How you will defend Marco Cappato? He said that he is going to denounce himself. In Italy he will be accused of ‘assisted suicide’.”

Filomena Gallo:

“He faces up to 12 years in prison. It will be a civil disobedience case. It will be defended in every possible way, but it is considered a message to Parliament. According to numerous polls, Italians are more advanced than Parliament, which prefers to wash its hands of this and does not address the issue at all.”

Euronews:

“Who is the most at fault in delaying and continuing to delay the law on the “living will”?”

Filomena Gallo:

“We can not ignore that our country is a Catholic one and the Vatican is located near Italy. Recall that when considering the constitution, Italy is a secular country. We demand that the secularity of our country be respected, that liberties be respected, and that no other sick person should ever go abroad to make this choice, to say “I want to fall asleep without suffering.” That today Italian parliamentarians should feel guilty for shifting such important issues.”