Name: Slovenias assisted dying law heads to crucial referendum
Uploaded: 2025-11-21T18:13:27.157Z
Duration: 2 min 39 s
Description: Slovenia will on Sunday vote on a law that proposes legalizing assisted dying for some terminally ill adults, following other European countries that have made the change.

Slovenia will on Sunday vote on a law that proposes legalizing assisted dying for some terminally ill adults, following other European countries that have made the change.

Ljubljana

Slovenia is set to vote in a binding referendum that could legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement. The proposed law, which was passed by parliament earlier in the year, would allow eligible adults to end their lives with medical assistance, subject to approval from two doctors, a cooling-off period, and self-administration of the medication.

The referendum was triggered by a citizens' initiative and will be binding if at least 20% of the electorate participates. Opponents, including Catholic Archbishop Stanislav Zoraj, argue the law is unjust and advocate for improved palliative care instead. Assisted dying is already legal in several countries, including Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and some U.S. states.

Slovenia's assisted dying law heads to crucial referendum

Slovenia will on Sunday vote in a referendum that could legalise assisted dying for some terminally ill adults. Marijan Jančaković, who lives in a town east of the capital Ljubljana, supports the bill. His wife, Alenka Kuren Jančaković, was wheelchair-bound and in pain for years from diabetes-related illnesses. In 2023, they travelled to a Swiss clinic to end her life. When you drink one deciliter of this medicine, you see bright colours. After my wife drank it, we held hands and in five minutes she was gone. It was the end. Painless, quick, and both of us were ready for this. We talked about this a lot, because we needed a few years to get to this point. Marijan says he does not regret his wife's decision, though wishes they had found an effective treatment, so, quote, she would still be with me. The law passed by the Slovenian parliament earlier this year would allow terminally ill adults facing unbearable suffering, with no prospect of improvement, to end their lives with the help of medical professionals. But a citizens' initiative led by a right-wing politician forced a referendum, the results of which will be binding. Opponents like Catholic Archbishop Stanislav Zoraj call the law unjust and inhumane, arguing it violates Slovenia's constitution. And let's work on those things we can, but on which we do nothing. On palliative care, on caring for the sick, on caring for those who are dying, but not offering them suicide. The law will be rejected if a majority of participating voters oppose it, on condition they constitute at least 20% of the electorate. Slovenia's law stipulates a two-doctor's approval, cooling-off periods, and self-administration of the medication. Assisted dying is already permitted in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and several U.S. states. Britain's lower house voted to legalize it earlier this year, though the bill awaits approval in the upper parliament chamber.

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