Abstract · In this study, I would like to discuss the difficulties of end-of-life decisions in Italy through examining a case which has provoked a huge outcry. After spending more than 17 years in a deep coma, Eluana Englaro deceased on February 9, 2009, at the age of 38. The judgement of her death as well as the dissenting views and opinions have been causing heated debates even today. The reason why the case has caused so many sharp reactions is that in Italy there wasn’t any legislation adopted on end-of-life decisions in 2009, and there hasn’t been any ever since. In order to reach the final decision, the judges had to compare and evaluate various general principles from different legal sources.

The first part of the article is about the development of the patient’s condition. The second part discusses what happened in the last period of the patient’s life. Finally, after the analysis of these facts, I would like to point out the public opinion in Italy about the right to die.