SW News: Catholic doctors in Portugal who uphold the sanctity of life have thanked President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for vetoing a draft euthanasia bill that was approved by the parliament in November.

The Association of Portuguese Catholic Doctors issued a statement recently in which they thanked the president for the veto. The parliament had given the nod to a first version of the euthanasia bill in early March. Even then, the staunchly-Catholic president vetoed it, saying it was unconstitutional.

However, on November 5, the parliament approved a second draft of the controversial bill and it was vetoed by the Sousa on November 29. In their statement, the doctors stressed that human life should be defended in all circumstances and they added that doctors cannot turn into agents of death.

“As Catholic doctors, we want to continue caring for all the sick, including those at the end of life, who are more fragile,” they said. “We will continue to fight for them, to treat them and give meaning to every moment of their life, also giving meaning to the oath that we took as professionals and making visible the Christian faith that we share.”

As per the bill, people suffering from a fatal disease can request euthanasia and it can be expanded to those with an incurable condition as well.