Sardinia Approves End-of-Life Law, Becomes Second Italian Region to Regulate Assisted Dying

Sardinia Adopts End-of-Life Legislation

The region of Sardinia officially approved a new end-of-life law on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, establishing regulations for medically assisted dying. This makes Sardinia the second Italian region to adopt such legislation, following Tuscany's pioneering move in February. The regional council's vote saw 32 members in favor, 19 against, and one abstention, reflecting ongoing debates surrounding the sensitive issue.

Framework and Eligibility Criteria

The newly approved law in Sardinia is based on a proposal from the pro-euthanasia Luca Coscioni Association and aligns with the principles established by the Italian Constitutional Court's ruling no. 242 of 2019. This ruling effectively legalized assisted suicide under specific conditions, which the regional law now formalizes. To be eligible for medically assisted dying, patients must meet several stringent criteria:

• They must suffer from an irreversible disease.
• They must be dependent on life-sustaining treatment.
• They must experience physical and psychological suffering deemed 'intolerable'.
• They must be capable of making a free and conscious decision.

The law guarantees free healthcare to eligible patients choosing to access physician-assisted dying.

Procedural Details and Implementation

The Sardinian legislation outlines clear procedures and timeframes for responding to end-of-life requests. These requests will be handled by local health authorities. A multidisciplinary commission will be established to verify the existence of the necessary requirements for each case. This commission is expected to include a palliative care physician, a neurologist, a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist, a nurse, and a psychologist. Regional health authorities will provide the necessary technical and pharmacological support, as well as medical assistance, for the self-administration of authorized medication, which can occur at a hospital, hospice, or, if requested, at home. The Tuscan law, which Sardinia's mirrors, specifies a review period of no more than 30 days for a medical and ethics commission to consider an end-of-life request.

National Context and Reactions

Sardinia's decision comes in the absence of comprehensive national legislation on end-of-life issues, despite the Constitutional Court's 2019 call for parliament to create a clear legal framework. Tuscany became the first Italian region to pass such a law on February 11, 2025. The Luca Coscioni Association lauded Sardinia's approval, with national secretary Filomena Gallo and treasurer Marco Cappato stating that it is 'a civilised law, aimed at preventing the recurrence of cases of people who have had to wait for months, or even years, for a response, in a state of unbearable and irreversible suffering.' Conversely, groups like the Catholic charity Pro Vita & Famiglia condemned the law as 'murderous' and urged the government to challenge it. The national government, led by Premier Giorgia Meloni, which is broadly opposed to euthanasia, had previously challenged Tuscany's law, and Sardinia's measure faces a similar risk of legal challenge.