The dramatic story of Eluana Englaro captured the attention of many Italians and much of the world this weekend.  In 1992, Ms. Englaro was in a serious car accident that left her in a vegetative state.  For many years, her father attempted to remove her feeding tube.  She died yesterday at the private clinic where she had been moved because the doctors there agreed to take out the feeding tube.

Earlier this year, the high court ruled removing the tube legal.  Then, Friday, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi introduced a law to force doctors to put the feeding tube back in.  Giorgio Napolitano, the President of the Italian Republic, refused to sign the act.  Senators were debating the measure at an emergency meeting when they heard news of Ms. Englaro’s death.  Italian news reports than many Senators called others “Assassins.”

Of course, the case strongly parallels the U.S. case of Terri Schiavo who also died in 2005 after a legal battle which resulted in the removal of her feeding tube. 

Source: NY Times