Portugal's parliament voted in favour of decriminalising euthanasia for the third time after the past two attempts to pass the legislation were vetoed by the country’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. “Medically-assisted death” was legalised by Belgium and the Netherlands more than two decades ago and several European countries have followed suit in the last few years. However, Portugal is yet to join the list due to the conservative approach taken by top authorities.

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The Socialist party, which enjoys an absolute majority in parliament, voted in favour of decriminalising euthanasia. However, the bill will only be passed after the president signs it.

The president said Thursday that he will take his decision "certainly before Christmas".

Reuters reported the bill advocates "the right to life cannot be turned into an obligation to live under any circumstances". However, it has been opposed by various groups recently with Catholic Doctors' Association saying that it "brings Portugal closer to more permissive legislation".

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According to the latest bill, euthanasia will be reserved for adults with "serious and incurable illness" and patients who have made a "reiterated" and "free and informed" personal decision.

In 2021, after the legislation won the parliamentary vote for the second time, it was sent to the constitutional court. Although the court said that it can be allowed with a few amendments, the president of the country still decided to not sign on it citing religious reasons.

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Portugal's parliament voted in favour of decriminalising euthanasia for the third time after the past two attempts to pass the legislation were vetoed by the country’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Portugal's parliament voted in favour of decriminalising euthanasia for the third time after the past two attempts to pass the legislation were vetoed by the country’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. “Medically-assisted death” was legalised by Belgium and the Netherlands more than two decades ago and several European countries have followed suit in the last few years. However, Portugal is yet to join the list due to the conservative approach taken by top authorities. Also read | India-Russia summit to not happen this year due to 'scheduling issues' The Socialist party, which enjoys an absolute majority in parliament, voted in favour of decriminalising euthanasia. However, the bill will only be passed after the president signs it. The president said Thursday that he will take his decision "certainly before Christmas". Reuters reported the bill advocates "the right to life cannot be turned into an obligation to live under any circumstances". However, it has been opposed by various groups recently with Catholic Doctors' Association saying that it "brings Portugal closer to more permissive legislation". Also read | Basketball star Brittney Griner arrives home in US after Russia prisoner swap According to the latest bill, euthanasia will be reserved for adults with "serious and incurable illness" and patients who have made a "reiterated" and "free and informed" personal decision. In 2021, after the legislation won the parliamentary vote for the second time, it was sent to the constitutional court. Although the court said that it can be allowed with a few amendments, the president of the country still decided to not sign on it citing religious reasons.

Portugal's parliament passes bill decriminalising euthanasia for third time

Portugal's parliament on Friday passed a law allowing medically assisted dying, putting the Catholic-majority country on course to become the fourth in Europe to legalise euthanasia.

Before coming into force the bill must first be signed into law by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a staunch Catholic and conservative who was re-elected only last weekend.

The president, who has yet to make public his position on the issue, could also either use his veto against the legislation or refer it to the country's constitutional court for further study.

The bill was adopted in parliament by 136 votes to 78 with four abstentions, thanks largely to a majority of votes from the ruling Socialist Party which had allowed its MPs to vote freely.

If the president did decide to exercise his veto, a second vote by lawmakers would override it.

Lawmakers had approved proposals aimed at changing the law in February, setting up the vote despite a campaign by the Church for a national referendum on the issue.

Socialist MP Isabel Moreira, a constitutional law expert who helped draft the law, said that it would respect "free choice and every individual's independence".

&nbsp;'Right to choose'&nbsp;

The bill legalises access to assisted suicide for adult patients in a situation of "extreme suffering and irreversible damage".

Several doctors must green-light the procedure, while a psychiatrist would be called in if there are doubts about the patient's ability to make a "free and informed" choice.

Euthanasia is legal in three European countries -- Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg -- while others allow terminally ill people to refuse life-maintaining treatment or to have help to die.

"People deserve the right to be able to choose," retired oncologist Jorge Espirito Santo, who has campaigned for years to make euthanasia legal in Portugal, said before the vote.

He said he was expecting a "historic day".

The Catholic Church, which predominates in Portugal, campaigned against the bill both among its own faithful and those of other denominations.

Its bishops' conference immediately expressed outrage at parliament's approval of the legislation, calling the law an "unprecedented step backwards".

The Portuguese Catholic Doctors'&nbsp; Association called on the president to veto the legislation, saying in a statement that "doctors are not the agents of death!"

In neighbouring Spain, the parliament voted by a wide margin in December to approve a bill that will allow euthanasia under strict conditions, despite fierce opposition from the Catholic church and conservative parties.

Portugal's parliament on Friday passed a law allowing medically assisted dying, putting the Catholic-majority country on course to become the fourth in Europe to legalise euthanasia.

Portugal's parliament on Friday passed a law allowing medically assisted dying, putting the Catholic-majority country on course to become the fourth in Europe to legalise euthanasia. Before coming into force the bill must first be signed into law by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a staunch Catholic and conservative who was re-elected only last weekend. The president, who has yet to make public his position on the issue, could also either use his veto against the legislation or refer it to the country's constitutional court for further study. The bill was adopted in parliament by 136 votes to 78 with four abstentions, thanks largely to a majority of votes from the ruling Socialist Party which had allowed its MPs to vote freely. If the president did decide to exercise his veto, a second vote by lawmakers would override it. Lawmakers had approved proposals aimed at changing the law in February, setting up the vote despite a campaign by the Church for a national referendum on the issue. Socialist MP Isabel Moreira, a constitutional law expert who helped draft the law, said that it would respect "free choice and every individual's independence". 'Right to choose' The bill legalises access to assisted suicide for adult patients in a situation of "extreme suffering and irreversible damage". Several doctors must green-light the procedure, while a psychiatrist would be called in if there are doubts about the patient's ability to make a "free and informed" choice. Euthanasia is legal in three European countries -- Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg -- while others allow terminally ill people to refuse life-maintaining treatment or to have help to die. "People deserve the right to be able to choose," retired oncologist Jorge Espirito Santo, who has campaigned for years to make euthanasia legal in Portugal, said before the vote. He said he was expecting a "historic day". The Catholic Church, which predominates in Portugal, campaigned against the bill both among its own faithful and those of other denominations. Its bishops' conference immediately expressed outrage at parliament's approval of the legislation, calling the law an "unprecedented step backwards". The Portuguese Catholic Doctors' Association called on the president to veto the legislation, saying in a statement that "doctors are not the agents of death!" In neighbouring Spain, the parliament voted by a wide margin in December to approve a bill that will allow euthanasia under strict conditions, despite fierce opposition from the Catholic church and conservative parties.

Portuguese parliament approves euthanasia law

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Portugal's parliament passes bill decriminalising euthanasia for third time

Portuguese parliament approves euthanasia law