A man in Lombardy, Italy, has become the first in the country to die in an assisted suicide completely managed by the regional health service.

Though assisted suicide is becoming more common in Italy, there is still no law regulating the practice, and thus far national health service's participation in assisted suicide deaths has been hotly contested.

Key Takeaways:

• Domenico Zuccarella died from assisted suicide on August 25.

• His death was the first in Italy completely managed by the regional health authority.

• The Constitutional Court decriminalized euthanasia and assisted suicide in 2019, but lawmakers have not passed any laws regulating the practice.

The Details:

Domenico Zuccarella, 59, died from assisted suicide on August 25. Though he was the fourth person in Lombardy to die by assisted suicide, his was the first death completely managed by the Lombardy Regional Health Authority.

As Italien News reported, "Until now, those affected or organizations such as the Associazione Luca Coscioni usually had to arrange for staff, medication, equipment, and a suitable location for assisted suicide on their own. In the Zuccarella case, for the first time, the health authority itself took full responsibility for the entire process, including the medical staff who volunteered to assist."

The Luca Coscioni Association, a pro-assisted suicide organization, is pushing for the health authority's role in helping people end their lives to become the norm. The group is advocating for lawmakers to adopt legislation that would place a legal stamp of approval on the process.

“To prevent the procedure from taking so long, and also to prevent a future Health Councillor from undoing everything with the stroke of a pen, it is essential that the Regional Council approves the ‘Liberi subito’ citizens’ initiative bill,” said Filomena Gallo and Marco Cappato, national secretary and treasurer of the association.

The Big Picture:

In 2019, the Italian Constitutional Court ruled that euthanasia or assisted suicide is not a crime if it is committed for "intolerable" pain or due to a chronic, non-life-threatening condition. Though that ruling effectively decriminalized assisted suicide, the Italian parliament has never come up with legislation to legally guide the process.

According to 24 Ore Salute, lawmakers are currently debating an 'end of life bill,' and the role of the National Health Service is currently one of "the most hotly debated points."

The current text of a finalized bill that has been stalled in the Senate for months specifically excludes the National Health Service from participating in assisted suicide deaths.

The Bottom Line:

At least one politician has publicly expressed dismay that a health service which is meant to treat patients is now helping them end their lives.

“What has happened with Domenico is extremely sad news, which raises a political and institutional issue that we cannot turn a blind eye to: the risk is that the Regional Health Service will end up taking on a role that goes beyond its fundamental mission, which is to treat patients and protect life," said  Matteo Forte, a Lombardy regional councilor for Fratelli d’Italia.