Portugal's MPs have rejected the four euthanasia bills they have been considering. After today's free vote, there will be no introduction of medically assisted death in Portugal.
As soon as the President of the Assembly, Ferro Rodrigues, announced the vote, many opposition MPs applauded.
The four proposals from four parties, suggested that citizens should be able to request, through a doctor, a medically assisted death if they are over 18, without behavioural or mental illness problems, in a situation of suffering and with an incurable disease.
The subject was taken seriously by MPs with 229 of the 230 members voting after a long debate.
CDS-PP members considered that the decriminalisation of euthanasia does not give people autonomy, but rather gives third parties the power over a person's life and that this is a process that is irreversible.
Pro-life demonstrators, under the "Do not Kill, Care" banner, joined hundreds of other people on the steps of Portugal’s parliament in a final appeal to MPs to reject the four bills to legalise euthanasia.
