Stefano Gheller, the 50-year-old
muscular dystrophy sufferer who was the first person to receive
authorization to commit assisted suicide from the Veneto
regional health service, died in Bassano hospital on Thursday
afternoon.
He had been in hospital for several days due to a deterioration
of his condition.
"I have no fear of death, but of the suffering that precedes
it," said Gheller, from Cassola near Vicenza, some time ago.
He suffered from a severe form of Facioscapulohumeral muscular
dystrophy inherited from his mother and was attached to a
respirator 24 hours a day for 35 years.
On October 13, 2022, the Pedemontana health agency granted
Gheller's request to be able to receive assisted suicide under a
recent Constitutional Court ruling, even though there is still
not Italian law in place in favour of the move.
"The news that I can end my life when the suffering becomes
unbearable has made me love life even more," he said at the
time.
"I hope it will also help any other people who make the me
request." he added.
Gheller said he could have gone to a euthanasia clinic in
Switzerland, where several other Italians have been helped to
commit assisted suicide by the right-to-die Luca Coscioni
Association.
However, he said he "preferred to stay in Italy and fight my
battle here".
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