Healthcare

Assisted suicide in Tuscany, first case after the approval of the regional law

The 60-year-old man had suffered from Parkinson's disease since 2008 and, due to 'severe dysphagia, was forced to live with the Peg running for 21 hours a day'.

11 June 2025

2' min read

Medically assisted suicide, the first case in Tuscany after the approval in February of the regional law on when and how, drafted on the basis of the Coscioni association's 'Liberi subito' pdl, later challenged by the government.

The association gives the news: 'On 17 May, in the province of Siena, Daniele Pieroni, a writer, was able to choose with lucidity and serenity to end his own life, thanks to sentence 242/19 of the' Consulta and the Tuscan law'.

The 60-year-old man had been suffering from Parkinson's disease since 2008 and, due to 'severe dysphagia, was forced to live with the Peg (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, it is a medical procedure that allows artificial feeding, ndr) running for 21 hours a day'.

Assisted suicide in Tuscany, 1st case after regional law

'This is the first case of assisted voluntary death that has occurred in the region since the law came into force, confirming its full applicability by virtue of constitutional judgement, despite the government's challenge,' the association explains.

In May, an appeal to the Constitutional Court was announced by the government. The president of the Tuscan Regional Council himself, Antonio Mazzeo, had explained that the law remains in force until the Constitutional Court's pronouncement.

The procedure

Daniele Pieorni had sent a formal request to the Asl Toscana Sud Est on 31 August 2023. After receiving, on 22 April 2025, the positive outcome of the verifications foreseen by the Constitutional Court ruling known as 'Cappato-Dj Fabo', Daniele, less than a month later, confirmed his wish to proceed at home. At his home the lethal drug was prepared, which Daniele self-administered'.

Two female doctors and a forensic doctor were present, 'on a voluntary basis'.

Beside Daniele were also Felicetta Maltese, coordinator of the Tuscan cell of the Luca Coscioni association, his trustee Leonardo Pinzi, his carers and family members. At 16:47 Daniele activated the double infusion pump device and at 16:50 he stopped breathing, peacefully'. 'It is important that the law worked and that the Asl respected the timing with seriousness and respect,' comments Maltese, who is currently under investigation together with Marco Cappato and Chiara Lallifor having helped another Tuscan citizen, Massimiliano, suffering from multiple sclerosis, to access assisted suicide in Switzerland.

Brand connect

I prossimi eventi

Tutti gli eventi

Notizie e approfondimenti sugli avvenimenti politici, economici e finanziari.

Italy