Health, Ivan's heartbreak: "I have dystrophy, but they take away my ventilation because the health company doesn't pay the debts. At this point I ask for assisted suicide".

Ivan Tavella, a 47-year-old man suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, has been forced into a desperate situation after being denied continued assistance with his life-sustaining ventilation due to unpaid debts by the local health authority. He has reportedly requested assisted suicide, citing the inability to continue living under these conditions. His request was made via a certified email sent to the Health Authority (Asp) of Vibo Valentia in May, and he is set to meet with a commission assessing his case. The agency providing round-the-clock care for him has warned that it will stop its services from July 31 unless the outstanding debt, estimated at around €120,000—is settled. According to Tavella, the Asp has failed to pay invoices for over one and a half years, forcing the agency to cover costs using its own funds, including paying assistants' salaries. The situation involves a complex interplay between different administrative bodies. Tavella resides in Calabria but lives in Parma for medical reasons, creating a jurisdictional challenge. Recent discussions have taken place between the Parma University Hospital (Ausl) and the municipality of Vibo Valentia. The local health authority in Calabria seeks for Tavella to sign an individual care plan for palliative care and to recognize the need for non-medical assistance. This would shift responsibility to the municipal government, which provides limited social funding. Tavella argues that this approach is impractical given the scale of his required support. Tavella explains that while medical professionals such as doctors and nurses can provide essential care, they are insufficient for his daily needs. His condition requires constant supervision and maintenance of life-support equipment, tasks that cannot be performed by medical staff alone. Furthermore, he notes that even trained social workers (Oss) often fail to address his unique requirements, leading to a lack of personalized care. He emphasizes that the alternative of moving to a residential facility is unacceptable, as it would compromise his autonomy and dignity. Tavella's predicament reflects broader issues surrounding the rights of individuals with severe disabilities. The concept of "Independent Life" is central to initiatives aimed at empowering disabled individuals to select and train their personal assistants, thereby maintaining control over their lives despite dependency. Legislative frameworks such as Law No. 162 of 1998 have introduced personalized care programs, allowing regions to offer home-based assistance up to 24 hours a day. National guidelines link these provisions to the freedom of choice regarding where and with whom one lives. Regional regulations in Calabria further define these measures, though specifics remain unclear.