Legalisation of Euthanasia in Finland: Via a Citizens’ Initiative?

Abstract

Abstract This article combines two legal and ethical questions: a) the new Finnish method of citizens’ democratic participation (the citizens’ initiative), and b) the complex and controversial question of euthanasia. Both are currently pertinent questions in Finland. The citizens’ initiative institution is a success, especially for liberal people and human rights organisations in promoting issues which coalition governments are not ready to submit to the Parliament of Finland. The euthanasia question meets these requirements and the citizens’ initiative on euthanasia (KAA 2/2017) in principle has a good chance of succeeding in the Parliament, but the result is unpredictable. Many members of the Parliament have not yet decided their attitude to euthanasia, which is a more complicated issue than, say, same-sex marriage.