Saeima rejects public initiative on legalizing euthanasia

  • 2021-03-25
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - The Saeima after a lengthy debate today rejected a public initiative with more than 10,000 signatures on legalizing euthanasia.

The decision was made with 49 votes to 38, with two abstentions. Thus, the parliament supported the proposal of the Saeima mandate, ethics and submissions committee to reject the initiative.

Janina Kursite-Pakule, the chairwoman of the responsible parliament committee, said that people should be aware what patient's wish to die means to medical personnel.

She also said that lawmakers tried to be politically correct, inviting representatives of four Latvian religious confessions to the meeting.

MP Anda Caksa said that first Latvia should improve palliative care and people's rights to reject aggressive treatment.