Fine vita, cure palliative, dignita: tra equilibri istituzionali (da ricercare) e conflitti di competenza (da risolvere)

The article examines the complex Italian legal framework surrounding end-of-life issues, focusing on recent developments at both national and regional levels. The study critically investigates various legislative proposals currently under discussion in the Italian Parliament and emphasizes the crucial role of palliative care as a prerequisite for any end-of-life decision. The article argues that this approach is most consistent with constitutional principles and the Constitutional Court’s jurisprudence, which has never recognized a “right to die” but has rather emphasized the State’s duty to protect life. The analysis discusses the landmark Constitutional Court judgment no. 242/2019 and the subsequent decisions nos. 135/2024 and 66/2025, which established limited circumstances of non-punishability for assisted suicide while maintaining the fundamental principle of life’s inviolability. The study also examines the recent Tuscan Regional Law n. 16/2025, the first regional legislation on medically assisted death in Italy, arguing that it exceeds the scope of regional legislative competence and infringes upon the constitutional allocation of powers under Article 117 of the Constitution.