Euthanasia, dignity and freedom. From the European Court of Human Rights’ case law to the Spanish Constitutional Court’s

Abstract

The ECHR has used the evolutive and internally harmonising interpretation criteria in the interpretation of the ECHR, which has allowed it to develop some judgments on the right to euthanasia in which it recognises a wide margin of appreciation for the States, making it compatible with the ECHR both prohibit and allow euthanasia, as long as the State guarantees the right to life of vulnerable people. The Spanish Constitutional Court has declared the constitutionality of the Organic Law regulating Euthanasia 3/2021, through a legal argument based on the doctrine of the ECHR.