Begin December, the Balearic Parliament has approved a proposal to decriminalise euthanasia. The Balearic Islands, of which Mallorca and Ibiza form part, are one of the autonomous communities of Spain. The proposal follows a law that was approved in 2015.
In 2015, the Balearic Islands already approved a law that regulates the rights of people in the process of dying. Now, this new proposal must create a State Basic Law that extends and guarantee this right. This proposal was presented by PSIB (Socialists), Unidas Podemos and Mes per Mallorca. The Popular parliamentary group has submitted an amendment to all the items. However, this amendment has not been accepted by the groups proposing.
The proposal contains three steps:
1. The Parliament of the Balearic Islands urges the State Government and the Congress of Deputies to elaborate a Law of Rights and Guarantees of the people in process to die at the level of State as a whole.
2. The Parliament of the Balearic Islands urges the State Government and the Congress of Deputies to study and process a legislative initiative that modifies article 143.4 of the lawOrganic 10/1995, of November 23, of the Criminal Code, to facilitate a dignified death, however also with the decriminalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide, in those cases where the person is considering the possibility of ending his life, by his own decision.
3. The Parliament of the Balearic Islands urges the State Government and the Congress of Deputies to study and to process, definitively, a legislative initiative to regulate systemically and in an orderly manner the assumptions where euthanasia is not typified as a criminal act.