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The decision of the investigating judge of Florence
Il gip di Firenze, Agnese di Girolamo, ha ordinato l’imputazione coatta per Marco Cappato, Felicetta Maltese e Chiara Lalli, accusati di aiuto al suicidio. I tre attivisti sono coinvolti nel caso di Massimiliano, un 44enne della provincia di Livorno affetto da Sla, che nel 2022 si è recato in Svizzera per avvalersi del suicidio assistito.
La decisione del giudice arriva dopo il rifiuto della procura di Firenze di archiviare il caso, e ora i tre rischiano una condanna che va da 5 a 12 anni di carcere.
The activists' statements
Marco Cappato commented on the situation by defining their action as a form of civil disobedience. Together with Lalli and Maltese, they self-reported, ready to face the consequences of their actions. Cappato stressed the importance of guaranteeing the right to freedom of choice until the end of life, highlighting the lack of intervention by Parliament on this sensitive issue.
The legal context and implications
Judge Di Girolamo clarified that, although the Constitutional Court has broadened the interpretation of the concept of “life-sustaining treatment”, Massimiliano could not be considered to be kept alive by such treatment. The investigating judge highlighted that to establish whether the patient met the requirements set by Italian law, an evaluation by a public structure of the National Health System is necessary. This aspect raises questions about the validity of the procedures followed in Switzerland, compared to those in Italy.
The positions of the prosecution and the next hearings
Prosecutor Carmine Pizzaroli argued that the actions of Cappato and the other two activists cannot be directly linked to Massimiliano's desire to commit suicide. According to the prosecution, the activists' conduct was limited to providing information and logistical support, without direct involvement in medical operations. The issue of end-of-life will be at the center of attention again on March 26, when the Constitutional Court will address other similar cases, while on March 27 a State-Regions Conference will be held to discuss the law on medically assisted suicide approved in Tuscany.