Health Ministry approves new euthanasia manual to speed up urgent cases

Spain's Ministry of Health has given the green light to a new manual governing euthanasia procedures, a move designed to streamline urgent cases and address inequalities in access across different regions. The decision, made by the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, aims to standardize and facilitate the process for patients seeking assisted dying.

The newly approved guide reportedly enhances the role of nurses in the euthanasia process and seeks to shorten waiting times, particularly for patients facing imminent risk. However, the approval was not unanimous, with the regional government of Madrid casting a dissenting vote against the manual.

This development signifies a continued effort by the Spanish government to regulate and implement its euthanasia law, which was legalized in 2021. The law allows individuals suffering from serious and incurable diseases, or those with severe and permanent disabilities, to request medical assistance to end their lives. The new manual is expected to clarify protocols and ensure more equitable application of the law nationwide, despite regional disagreements.