Portugal
Legal situation
In short
In Portugal, euthanasia and assisted suicide are forbidden by their Penal Code.
In 2020 however, 5 bills about legal assisted dying, including euthanasia, were approved by Portugese Parliament.
These were merged into one bill, and on the 29th of January 2021 this bill is approved by Parliament. Now it is up to the the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, to approve the bill or demand further parliamentary or judicial review. This could be the case if he believes the law infringes Portugal’s constitution, which states “human life is inviolable”.
Medically assisted death bill
The merged bill about medically assisted death provides that a person can request medically assisted death or euthanasia.
The person’s will should be current and reiterated, serious, free and enlightened.
And the person should be in a situation of intolerable suffering, with definitive injury of extreme severity according to scientific consensus or incurable and fatal disease.
In these cases, euthanasia “is not legally punishable when practiced or helped by health professionals”.
Penal Code
Article 134 of the Penal Code forbids murder at request (euthanasia).
The punishment for it is up to three years.
Also an attempt is punishable.
Article 135 of the Penal Code forbids assisted suicide.
The punishment for it is up to three years.
If the person to whom he is providing help is under 16 years of age or has no ability to value or determine his own interests, the agent shall be punished with imprisonment from 1 to 5 years.
Right to Die Societies in Portugal
Latest news
March 11: Webinar on euthanasia in Colombia, Spain and Portugal
WFRtDS and DMD-Spain would like to invite you to the Spanish webinar “The legislative situation regarding euthanasia in Colombia, Spain and Portugal” Date: Thursday, March 11thTime:
February 23, 2021
Portugese president passes euthanasia bill to Constitutional Court
After end January the Portugese parliament approved the decriminalization of medically assisted death, Portugal’s president has now sidestepped the country’s controversial euthanasia legislation by asking
February 22, 2021
Portugese Parliament approved euthanasia bill
At Friday January 29, the Portugese parliament approved the decriminalization of medically assisted death. The so called medically assisted death bill is the merged result
January 29, 2021
Portugal close to becoming 4th European country with euthanasia law
On February 20, five bills about euthanasia are approved by the Portugese Parliament. The content of the bills Euthanasia becomes possible in the case of
February 23, 2020
Portugal Parliament set to debate decriminalisation of physician-assisted death
On Thursday 30 January, Portugal’s Parliament agreed to debate on the decriminalization of physician-assisted death in their country. A bill to allow euthanasia and assisted suicide will
February 2, 2020