A report into the controversial matter following a petition to decriminalise assisted dying will be debated in parliament.
More than four thousand people signed the petition for the matter of euthanasia to be taken to parliament, a step that was later given the green light by the Committee for Constitutional Affairs.
The petition, which is available on the Internet, also contains the names of over 100 high-ranking officials and Portuguese celebrities calling for the decriminalisation of
euthanasia.
The text argues that the legalisation of euthanasia is based on principles enshrined in the Constitution, such as religious freedom, freedom of ideals and conscience.
Earlier this year, it emerged that the Portuguese medical association is to file charges with the public prosecutor and the health inspectorate against the leader of the nurses association, Ana Rita Cavaco, who said that euthanasia was already practiced in Portuguese health service hospitals.
Ms Cavaco said on the radio programme “Em nome da lei”, broadcast by Catholic station Rádio Renascença, that euthanasia “is sometimes practiced in the health service hospitals, with doctors suggesting this solution for some
patients”.
The medical association said this affirmation was “very serious” and that it was going to send a copy of her statements to the proper authorities to open “the necessary proceedings”.
The medical association said it was unaware of any specific cases of “explicit or undercover euthanasia in the national health service or any other health institutions” and that the Portuguese should continue to have complete confidence in the health professionals.
The order went on to say that “regardless of individual positions regarding the legalisation of euthanasia, the content of the declarations was particularly serious as it involved doctors and nurses in the alleged undercover crime of homicide in hospitals”. The medical association added that “not denouncing such a crime, which was witnessed or of specific knowledge, is also committing a crime”.
Ana Rita Cavaco said on the radio programme that she had seen situations in state hospitals where doctors suggested giving insulin to terminal patients to cause coma and death.
“I have personally witnessed such situations - I don’t need to look for further other examples. I have seen cases where doctors have suggested administering insulin to induce an insulin coma. I am not going to shock anybody as everyone who works in the health service knows these things happen out of sight and sound, so let’s talk about it openly.”