BERLIN (AP) — A German federal court on Tuesday denied two seriously ill men direct access to a lethal dose of a drug, arguing that the country's narcotics law stands in the way and that they could turn to assisted suicide to end their lives.
The two men, one of whom has advanced multiple sclerosis and the other of whom has been through cancer, sought permission to acquire lethal doses of natrium-pentobarbital.
In July, lawmakers failed to agree on new rules regulating assisted suicide after the country’s highest court struck down legislation which banned the practice when conducted on a “business” basis.
Political Cartoons View All 1234 ImagesThe Federal Constitutional Court ruled in 2020 that the ban, which was introduced five years earlier, violated the rights of citizens to determine the circumstances of their own deaths by restricting their ability to seek assistance from a third party.
The lawyer for the plaintiffs in Tuesday's case, Robert Rossbruch, said the verdict marked a “black day” and that he was likely to take the case to the constitutional court, German news agency dpa reported.
Persons:
Robert Rossbruch
Organizations:
BERLIN, Administrative Court, Constitutional
Locations:
Germany