Portugal’s Constitutional Court vetoes euthanasia bid

The Constitutional Court has vetoed the diploma approved by MPs for euthanasia in Portugal on the basis that as it stands it is unconstitutional on four counts, relating to the ‘inviolability of human life’. President Marcelo felt the same when the diploma landed on his desk for promulgation, turning it into law. He sent it to the court saying he felt it used “excessively indeterminate concepts” that are too vague to justify bringing a life to an end. The diploma will now be returned to parliament for rewording.