Abstract

The paper suggests some ways that the Italian legislator can employ secular law to deal with the issue of end of life, by allowing living wills prepared by the leaders of the ethical groups, associations of social engagement, religious denominations, and philosophical organizations. Doing so would respect the freedom of conscience of each individual testator, from which emanate the life choices proposed in these sensitive documents, and also respect also the equally significant autonomy of the doctor who, in a relation¬ship marked by solidarity, must strongly consider these lifestyle choices with a view to science and conscience.