Spain has passed a law that will allow vulnerable people to be killed by euthanasia. The day has been described as “disastrous” and “devastating".

The Spanish lower parliament voted to approve the euthanasia law that will allow vulnerable people suffering from “serious and uncurable” disease to be killed.

It is expected that the euthanasia law will come into effect in June 2021.

Pro-life groups have said that they will challenge the euthanasia law in Spain’s constitutional court.

Up until now, attempts to legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia in Spain have faced resistance and widespread opposition from Spanish politicians and the public.

Protests were held outside the Spanish parliament buildings in Madrid during previous debates on assisted suicide.

Last year, SPUC reported on the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, which decried the move to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide, stating that: “Human life is not a good anyone can dispose of."

SPUC comment

A SPUC spokesperson said: “The legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide in countries around the world marks a terrifying trend that cheapens human life and increasingly views death as the default response to suffering.

“Legalised assisted suicide puts vulnerable people at risk and creates a society where human life is cheapened.

“Here in the UK, we cannot make the same mistake. We must oppose every move to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide. That would be a tragic step towards creating a culture where people feel their best option in life is to die.”