Associazione Luca Coscioni
Encyclopedia
The Luca Coscioni Association for the freedom of scientific research was founded on September 20, 2002 by Luca Coscioni
, a victim of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
and a member of the Italian Radical Party who promoted the campaign for the freedom of scientific research on embryonic stem cells.
In 2001 he was the head of the list of Radical candidates in the political elections and received the support of 51 Nobel Prize Laureates worldwide.
In 2005, the Association launched the pro-referendum campaign aimed at abrogating Law 40 which imposed a ban on assisted fertilization and on research on embryonic stem cells, by collecting the signatures of over a million voters. Although the referendum query obtained a majority of votes, it was cancelled for not obtaining the required quorum pursuant to the pro-abstention campaign promoted by the Italian Catholic Church and by many political parties.
The Association is also promoter of the World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research, an international platform of scientists, patients and citizens.
In 2006, it played a leading role in the legal and political battle in favour of euthanasia
and of the principle of a “Biological Testament” (Living Will) promoted by Piergiorgio Welby
, the President of the Association, who suffered from progressive muscular dystrophy
. After having addressed an open letter to the Italian President of the Republic and having filed a petition with the competent Court to respect his will to die, Piergiorgio Welby died on December 20, 2006 after having received sedation and being disconnected from mechanical pulmonary ventilation thanks to an act of civil disobedience
organized by the Luca Coscioni Association.
Luca Coscioni
Luca Coscioni was an Italian economist and politician.- Education and university career :He was a Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Viterbo who engaged very actively in the social and political spheres with the political organization Radicali Italiani and with the Luca...
, a victim of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
and a member of the Italian Radical Party who promoted the campaign for the freedom of scientific research on embryonic stem cells.
In 2001 he was the head of the list of Radical candidates in the political elections and received the support of 51 Nobel Prize Laureates worldwide.
In 2005, the Association launched the pro-referendum campaign aimed at abrogating Law 40 which imposed a ban on assisted fertilization and on research on embryonic stem cells, by collecting the signatures of over a million voters. Although the referendum query obtained a majority of votes, it was cancelled for not obtaining the required quorum pursuant to the pro-abstention campaign promoted by the Italian Catholic Church and by many political parties.
The Association is also promoter of the World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research, an international platform of scientists, patients and citizens.
In 2006, it played a leading role in the legal and political battle in favour of euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
and of the principle of a “Biological Testament” (Living Will) promoted by Piergiorgio Welby
Piergiorgio Welby
Piergiorgio Welby was an Italian poet, painter and activist whose three-month-long battle to establish his right to die led to a debate about euthanasia in his country....
, the President of the Association, who suffered from progressive muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and hamper locomotion. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue.In the 1860s, descriptions of boys who...
. After having addressed an open letter to the Italian President of the Republic and having filed a petition with the competent Court to respect his will to die, Piergiorgio Welby died on December 20, 2006 after having received sedation and being disconnected from mechanical pulmonary ventilation thanks to an act of civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
organized by the Luca Coscioni Association.