Launched new book on Euthanasia and Secularism

Euthanasia and Secularism – Every year, Derecho y Religión (Law and Religion) analyses monographically some specific issues related to the external manifestations of religion, from a strictly legal perspective.

Each volume consists exclusively of doctrinal works, with the editor responsible for selecting the authors responsible for developing the contents.

Published by Delta Publicaciones in collaboration with the Instituto Metodológico de Derecho Eclesiástico del Estado (IMDEE) (Methodological Institute of Ecclesiastical Law of State), it is aimed primarily at university jurists and has a vocation for international presence, which is why the languages in which it is published are Spanish and English.

The XVII volume, published this 2022, had a very controversial issue and its implications with other rights and freedom, this is Euthanasia and secularism, and has been coordinated by Prof. Santiago Cañamares Arribas (UCM), Prof. Salvador Pérez Álvarez (UNED) and Prof. Marcos González Sánchez (UAM).

Law and Religion Review “Euthanasia and secularism”, vol. XVII, 2022

This volume 2022 of the Law and Religion Review analyses the regulation of euthanasia in various countries. Passing euthanasia laws is consistent with the idea of an ideologically neutral state in religious matters, but it entails ethical problems in society.

The papers in this volume examine the impact of these laws on health professionals directly involved in the provision of aid in dying through euthanasia practices. One of the main issues addressed is the conscientious objection of healthcare personnel.

The medical conscientious objection can therefore be defined as a health professional’s refusal to perform a medical act or to cooperate directly or indirectly in its performance because he or she considers it to be contrary to his or her conscience.

Conscientious objection allows health professionals not to do what is contrary to their medical obligation, which is to help people to live. Indeed, the purpose of medicine is not to cause the death of the patient, but for citizens to lead a dignified life – rather than a dignified death.

It also examines the functions of the Euthanasia Guarantee and Evaluation Commissions in which some health professionals participate. These Commissions have the final say in a request for euthanasia and their favourable resolution implies the execution of the right to the service.

CONTENTS vol. XVII (2022)

• Considerations on Organic Law 3/2021, of 24 March, regulating euthanasia.
  regulation of euthanasia – (Consideraciones sobre la Ley Orgánica 3/2021, de 24 de marzo, de regulación de la eutanasia) ISIDORO MARTÍN SÁNCHEZ, Autonomous University of Madrid

• Twentieth anniversary of the euthanasia law in Belgium: a new critical balance sheet (Vigésimo aniversario de la ley de eutanasia en Bélgica: nuevo balance crítico) -ETIENNE MONTERO, University of Namur

• Euthanasia in the Netherlands. History, developments and challenges – MARTIN BUIJSEN, Erasmus University Rotterdam

• Palliative sedation and limitation of life-sustaining treatment (LTSV). (LTSV): Alternatives to euthanasia? (Sedacción paliativa y limitación de tratamientos de soporte vital (LTSV): ¿Alternativas a la eutanasia?) – SALVADOR PÉREZ ÁLVAREZ, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spanish Open University)

• Euthanasia, End of Life Care and Children: Democratic Dilemmas in England and Wales. – JAVIER GARCÍA OLIVA, University of Manchester; HELEN HALL, Nottingham Trent University

• The right of patients to request the provision of assisted dying services.
  aid in dying. Scope and limits (El derecho de los pacientes a solicitar la prestación del servicio de ayuda a morir. Alcance y límites) – SALVADOR TARODO SORIA, University of León

• Euthanasia Law: general aspects and institutional or ideological objection (Ley de eutanasia: aspectos generales y objeción institucional o de ideario) – GLORIA MORENO BOTELLA, Autonomous University of Madrid

• Euthanasia in the Netherlands: Recent Legal and Religious Considerations – THEO A. BOER, Protestant Theological University

• The conscientious objection of health personnel to euthanasia (La objeción de conciencia del personal sanitario ante la eutanasia)- MARÍA JOSÉ CIÁURRIZ LABIANO, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spanish National University of Distance Education)

• Euthanasia law in Spain in the light of religious freedom and freedom of conscience.
  conscience (La ley de eutanasia en España a la luz de la libertad religiosa y de conciencia) – DIEGO TORRES SOSPEDRA, University of Valencia

• Some notes on the Commissions for the Guarantee and Evaluation of euthanasia (Algunas notas sobre las Comisiones de Garantía y Evaluación de la eutanasia) – MARCOS GONZÁLEZ SÁNCHEZ, Autonomous University of Madrid

• The winding path to the decriminalization and regulation of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in Portugal / and / Assisted Suicide in Portugal: ethical questions, legal options – M. PATRÃO NEVES, University of the Azores; CÍNTIA ÁGUAS, Bioethics Institute, Catholic University of Portugal

• Dignity in life and death. On euthanasia (Dignidad en la vida y en la muerte. Acerca de la eutanasia) – JOSÉ MARÍA PUYOL MONTERO, Complutense University of Madrid

• Euthanasia and palliative care: current situation in Spain (Eutanasia y cuidados paliativos: situación actual en España) – ÁLVARO GÁNDARA DEL CASTILLO, Coordinator of the Palliative Care Unit at the Jiménez Palliative Care Unit of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation