RIcord me as a woman who loved life. Ends with these words The letter of greeting by Laura Santi. The Perugian journalist, suffering from a progressive and advanced form of multiple sclerosis, had told the story of his illness and the battle to obtain the green light for assisted suicide. Completely tetraplegic, in wheelchair for 16 years, with incontinence and bent by painful spasms, Laura Santi died yesterday July 21 in her home in Perugia, helping the lethal drug. Next to her was her husband Stefano, at his side always. The news of the death was released by the Luca Coscioni Association.
Laura Santi died in her home in Perugia, with assisted suicide
After years of disease progression and after the last year of ferocious worsening of her conditions, her sufferings had become intolerable for her. He had had the green light from his reference ASL last month after two and a half years after his request for access to assisted suicide and a long judicial path. The drug and instrumentation necessary were provided by the Healthcare Companywhile the medical and nursing staff who assisted her in the procedure was activated on a voluntary basis.
“Please: remember me, and in reminding me, you never get tired of fighting”
“Life is worthy of being lived, if one wants it, even up to 100 years and in the most ferocious conditions, but we must be we who live this extreme suffering to decide and no one else», These are the words of Laura Santi, entrusted to the Luca Coscioni Association, of which he was an activist and general councilor.
“I’m about to die. You cannot understand what a sense of freedom from suffering, from the daily hell that I am now living. Or maybe you can understand it. Stay quiet for me. I bring myself from there I smile, I think it is so. I bring me a lot of beauty that you have given me. And please: remember me. Yes, I ask you, remember me. And in reminding me, you never get tired of fighting. Please, never resign yourself. I know, I know you already do it, but you never resign yourself. Never get tired, even when the battles seem truly invincible ».
Assisted suicide, the battle of Laura Santi to obtain her right
Laura Santi had to face a long and complex judicial, civil and criminal process, To see the right to access medically assisted suicide recognized.
After three years from the initial request to the ASL, two complaints, two warnings, an emergency appeal and a complaint against the health company, only in November 2024 did it obtain a complete medical report that certified the possession of Requirements established by sentence 242 2019 of the Constitutional Court and of June 2025, confirmation from the medical college of experts and then of the ethical committee on the pharmacological protocol and the methods of hiring.
Laura Santi in a photo released by the Coscioni Association
The Coscioni Association has also released the letter of greeting by Laura Santi, which we report in full.
Laura Santi’s farewell letter
When you read these lines I won’t be there anymore, Because I will have decided to stop suffering.
Although my choice was now known to everyone, this final gesture of mine arrives in silence and will give disappointment and pain. Many will be sorry, others will suffer from not having been able to give me a last farewell, a last hug. I ask you to understand the reason for this silence. Also in the certainty of my decision It is the most total and definitive gesture that a human being can perform, it takes cold blood and steel nerves. How could I live it serenely adding mourning to early mourning, pain in pain, resistance, tears reactions and attachment? I also ask you for an additional understanding of understanding.
“Try to imagine what a torment of pain led me to this gesture, day by day, now for now, minute by minute”
Try to imagine Which beam of pain led me to this gesture, day by day, Now for now, minute by minute. Make the effort to understand that behind a pretty photo on social media, behind the beautiful smile that you could see just an hour torn from the routine and symptoms on a public opportunity, increasingly rare, behind it was the background of a painful, bare, ferocious and continuous worsening everyday life. A growing suffering day after day. The situation has been evolving for years, then in real time the last months and weeks. My husband Stefano and my assistants have seen it, they and only them and indeed, not even them, necessarily, they could be able to understand what I felt in my body, how bad I felt, how much more and more totalizing effort. Can no longer be the slightest gesture. No longer enjoying life, no longer enjoying social relationships. Which is what a dignified life does for me.
Photo Coscioni Association
“Live every day as if it were the last, it is said. I did it “
I had a lot of time to elaborate and mature this decision, I had a lot of time to understand when it was really the time. I had that famous parapet, what you have often read about, from which to look out. I also had a lot of time to change my mind and postpone the decision. I allowed myself, in a situation that still held, to savor the last remnants of life and beauty. To greet every corner, every place, every face, every person every situation every sky every color, every tiny walk out. Live every day as if it were the last, it is said. It is also said that it is impossible, in fact. Well, I almost made it. I go by having tasted the last bite of life in a strong and conscious way. You mean: I think any life remains worthy of being lived even in the most extreme conditions. But it is us and only us who have to choose.
The chats on life and death
To the people who will remain without a greeting as well as my apologies goes a very strong hug. It is impossible to enumerate all the faces that have filled my life. Do that I am greeting and embracing you. My life was full also thanks to you.
My family of origin: Dad Renato, mom Gabriella, my sister Elena, my nephew Matteo; all relatives; Laura, Chiara and the historical friends of a lifetime, all friends, colleagues and acquaintances, the comrades of illness, the companions of activism, all those with whom I shared a piece of the road. My beloved Perugia. My doctors, my palliativists, my physiotherapists, a special thanks to Daniela for giving me the tools to fight over the years. My assistants, my second family in this last stretch. The good politics, Fabio and Vittoria, the friendly journalists, like the two Francesca; who helped me; Bishop Ivan, a special friend with whom I entertained myself in more than a chat about life and death.
“Pretend to be a good law on the end of life, one day it may concern you”
I was able to win my battle only thanks to the friends of the Luca Coscioni Association, follow them and follow the rights and freedoms, never as well as the test as today. On the end of life I feel an endless sprol, the chronic interference of the Vatican, the incompetence of politics. The bill that is carrying out the majority is a coup d’état that would cancel all rights. Instead, you demand a good law, which respects the sick and their needs. Exercise your critical spirit, press, organize yourself and do not stay to look at, but activate, because it could One day concern you or your loved ones too.
Remove me as a woman who loved life.
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