Medically assisted suicide in Italy after regional law No. 16/2025: Perspectives, challenges, and the need for psychological support and specialized training for healthcare professionals.

This article focuses on Tuscany's 2025 regional law regulating medically assisted suicide, the first of its kind in Italy, and emphasizes the absence of mandated psychological support and specialized training for healthcare professionals involved in the procedure. Drawing on international experiences from countries where assisted suicide or medical assistance in dying (MAiD) is legal, the article highlights the significant emotional and ethical challenges faced by healthcare providers, including compassion fatigue, moral conflict, and psychological distress. It reviews various support and training programs implemented abroad—such as consultation services, peer support groups, and formal education curricula—that aim to prepare and protect healthcare workers. The authors argue that incorporating structured psychological support and comprehensive training into Italy's regulatory framework is essential for ethical, sustainable, and effective end-of-life care, ensuring the well-being of both patients and healthcare professionals.