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The prohibition of any type of assistance in case of suicide is unconstitutional, the Constitutional Court ruled on Friday and partially annulled the crime of “participation in suicide”, article 78 of the Penal Code. As of 2022, assisted euthanasia, as practiced in Switzerland, for example, will also be possible in Austria. At the same time, the Constitutional Court emphasized that the legislator must prevent cases of abuse and excessive advantages.
The Catholic Church is extremely critical of this relaxation. “That hurts me and many who see life as a gift from God’s hand deeply,” said the Bishop of Styria, Wilhelm Krautwaschl. Human life is “worthy of appreciation from beginning to end.” With the verdict a “break of the dam” begins, human life becomes “negotiable”.
Cardinal Christoph Schnborn warns that pressure on the sick and elderly will increase “to get out of the way by suicide.” He hopes that Parliament “finds good solutions wisely”. Hospice and palliative facilities should be expanded so that “killing does not become routine.”
“Step on the inclined plane”
The “Salzburg Doctors Forum for Life”, an association of more than 350 German-speaking doctors, also expressed “great concern and concern”. With this “dam breaking” an “inclined plane” will be introduced, the dynamics of which can be seen in the Benelux countries and Switzerland. Because the first exemption could be followed by more.
Viennese pastoral theologian Paul Zulehner said that parliament now faces “hard work”: because this would have to clarify what is to be understood by “dignified death” and “excruciating pain” in “high-tech medicine.
Euthanasia: politicians are reluctant
Both the government and opposition politicians commented cautiously on the VfGH ruling on euthanasia. Now we have to “examine what legal protection measures are necessary,” said Constitution Minister Karoline Edtstadler (VP).
He was surprised that the VfGH had deviated from its earlier jurisprudence. “Life enjoys the highest constitutional protection for good reason. We will continue to make sure that no one has to question the value of his life, ”Edtstadler said.
“The consequences require a thorough examination,” said Green Club President Sigrid Maurer. The issue of euthanasia is “particularly sensitive in view of Austria’s history.” Experts and civil society must participate.
The leader of the SP, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, asked the government to “solidly repair” the rules on assisted suicide. As a doctor, she rejects active euthanasia, but agrees that “excessive criminal liability” for aid should no longer apply.
NEOS’s Gerald Loacker reacted in a similar way: They are against active euthanasia, but in favor of allowing the terminally ill to participate in the suicide of the terminally ill.
