Ethiopia's Landmark Law on Assisted Death
In a significant legal and ethical development, Ethiopia's parliament passed a groundbreaking law in January that outlines the procedures for physician-assisted death. The legislation permits the withdrawal of life support for patients suffering from incurable illnesses, a notable shift from the country's previous medical ethics.
The Ministry of Health has since issued a draft directive to formalize the process, which defines a framework for passive euthanasia, where medical professionals can cease life-sustaining treatment.
Key Procedures and Legal Definitions
- Diagnosis and Consent: For a patient to be considered, their diagnosis must be confirmed by at least three health professionals. Following this, relatives can submit a written request to withdraw life support. This procedure is legally limited to patients who are either declared brain dead or are entirely dependent on external medical support.
- Definition of Euthanasia: The directive explicitly defines euthanasia as "the deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable suffering."
While the law has been approved, its specific implementation remains under a new directive that outlines the conditions and procedures for these cases. This move aligns with a growing global conversation about end-of-life care and patient autonomy, even as many African nations maintain strong legal prohibitions against assisted dying.
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