The Veneto Regional Council has approved the popular initiative law on end-of-life care. After Tuscany, Sardinia, and Emilia-Romagna, it is the fourth Italian region and the first governed by the center-right to give the green light.

The measure, which defines "procedures and timeframes for regional healthcare assistance for physician-assisted suicide," was approved with 32 votes in favor, 5 abstentions, and 14 against.

Luca Zaia, former governor and current president of the Regional Council, commented: "There are those for and against on both the right and the left. There's no clear political alignment, so the only solution is to rely on freedom of conscience and for politicians to view issues like this, which are ethical issues, as a 'no-fly zone' that should be left to freedom of conscience alone."

(Unioneonline)