Sviluppi tecnologici, uguaglianza e autodeterminazione: il percorso italiano verso la legalizzazione del suicidio assistito

This paper examines the evolving interplay between technological advancement, equality, and individual self-determination in the context of assisted suicide legalisation in Italy. The analysis focuses on significant cases, such as that of Piergiorgio Welby and Eluana Englaro, and investigates the impact of real-life scenarios on ethical debates and the relationship between legal frameworks and societal values. The Cappato/Antoniani case is given particular attention, as is the 2019 Constitutional Court ruling that partially decriminalised assisted suicide. The aim is both to elucidate the moral and legal quandaries pertaining to the dependency on life-sustaining treatments as a prerequisite for access to assisted suicide and to posit a more expansive interpretation of equality and self-determination principles, advocating for the removal of discriminatory barriers. Comparative insights from German and Austrian legal frameworks underscore alternative approaches to recognizing the right to die with dignity, emphasizing the role of ethics and politics in balancing technological progress with fundamental human rights.