The Senate on Wednesday approved
Article 1 of a bill for living wills with 154 votes in favour,
36 against and four abstentions.
The ruling Democratic Party (PD) is hoping to push the bill
through to end a legislative vacuum on end-of-life issues before
parliament is dissolved ahead of elections early next year with
the support of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S).
Many Catholic lawmakers are opposed.
A living will, also called a directive to physicians or
advance directive, is a document that lets people state their
wishes for end-of-life medical care, in case they become unable
to communicate their decisions.
It may include their stating they do not wish to be
artificially fed and hydrated.
Right-to-die activists have hailed the bill saying it has
"finally" come eight years after the landmark case of Eluana
Englaro, which split the country.
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