Eluana Englaro , who had been in a persistent vegetative state since 1992 following an automobile accident, died Monday at the "La Quiete" clinic in Udine , where doctors stopped feeding her four days ago. The case has sparked a debate about euthanasia, as well as a political crisis. Eluana Englaro, undated handout photo. Euthanasia is illegal in Italy, however, refusing treatment is not. On Friday doctors removed her feeding tubes in accordance with a November 2008 ruling by the Constitutional Court of Italy that it was within her father's rights to order the cessation of feeding. Beppino Englaro delivered the news of Eluana's death by telling ANSA : "Yes, she has left us, but I don't want to say anything, I just want to be alone." In an interview with The Guardian last week, Beppino Englaro said: "If she couldn't be what she was [before the 1992 accident] then she would not have wanted to live." At the time of her death, the Italian Senate was working on a law to force doctors to resume feeding Eluana. When her death was announced, the Senate held a moment of silence as a sign of respect. The legislation is continuing and could affect future right-to-die cases. Friday, Berlusconi had attempted to issue a decree to prevent the feeding tubes from being removed. This was however rejected by President Giorgio Napolitano who said it violated high court orders, triggering a constitutional crisis. Massimo D'Alema of the opposition party, Democratic Party of the Left , criticized the Prime Minister. "Berlusconi has little knowledge of the constitutional culture," he said. "He is a bully who wants to question the president's constitutional democratic powers." The Italian Minister of Health Maurizio Sacconi attempted to halt the proceedings on a technicality. According to his office, the court had specified for Eluana Englaro to die in a hospice, which the "La Quiete" clinic technically is not. Eluana Englaro's long-time neurologist , Carlo Alberto Defanti, had erroneously predicted that she would survive another eight to ten days. Professor Antonio de Monte, an anesthesiologist who also provided care for her said: "Eluana died 17 years ago." At Sunday's noon blessing, Pope Benedict XVI said, without direct reference to the case, "Let us pray for all the sick, especially those most seriously ill, who cannot in any way provide for themselves, but are totally dependent on the care of others. Let each of them experience, in the care of those who are near them, the power of God's love and the wealth of his saving grace." According to The Times , opinion polls showed the people of Italy to be evenly divided 47/47, with 6 percent undecided, on the issue.
 , who had been in a since 1992 following an automobile accident, died Monday at the "La Quiete" clinic in , where doctors stopped feeding her four days ago. The case has sparked a debate about euthanasia, as well as a political crisis. Eluana Englaro, undated handout photo. Euthanasia is illegal in Italy, however, refusing treatment is not. On Friday doctors removed her feeding tubes in accordance with a November 2008 ruling by the that it was within her father's rights to order the cessation of feeding. Beppino Englaro delivered the news of Eluana's death by telling : "Yes, she has left us, but I don't want to say anything, I just want to be alone." In an interview with last week, Beppino Englaro said: "If she couldn't be what she was [before the 1992 accident] then she would not have wanted to live." At the time of her death, the was working on a law to force doctors to resume feeding Eluana. When her death was announced, the Senate held a moment of silence as a sign of respect. The legislation is continuing and could affect future right-to-die cases. Friday, Berlusconi had attempted to issue a decree to prevent the feeding tubes from being removed. This was however rejected by President who said it violated high court orders, triggering a constitutional crisis. of the opposition party, , criticized the Prime Minister. "Berlusconi has little knowledge of the constitutional culture," he said. "He is a bully who wants to question the president's constitutional democratic powers." The Maurizio Sacconi attempted to halt the proceedings on a technicality. According to his office, the court had specified for Eluana Englaro to die in a hospice, which the "La Quiete" clinic technically is not. Eluana Englaro's long-time , Carlo Alberto Defanti, had erroneously predicted that she would survive another eight to ten days. Professor Antonio de Monte, an who also provided care for her said: "Eluana died 17 years ago." At Sunday's noon blessing, said, without direct reference to the case, "Let us pray for all the sick, especially those most seriously ill, who cannot in any way provide for themselves, but are totally dependent on the care of others. Let each of them experience, in the care of those who are near them, the power of God's love and the wealth of his saving grace." According to , opinion polls showed the people of Italy to be evenly divided 47/47, with 6 percent undecided, on the issue.
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Eluana Englaro
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persistent vegetative state
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Udine
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Constitutional Court of Italy
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ANSA
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The Guardian
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Italian Senate
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Giorgio Napolitano
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Massimo D'Alema
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Democratic Party of the Left
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Italian Minister of Health
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neurologist
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anesthesiologist
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Pope Benedict XVI
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The Times