A terminally ill Italian man whose right-to-die campaign set off an impassioned euthanasia debate in his country passed away late Wednesday, after a doctor granted his wish to be taken off life support.

Italian doctor Mario Riccio denied Thursday that his actions amounted to illegal euthanasia, distinguishing the removal of the man's respirator as "a suspension of therapies" and noting all patients have a constitutional right to refuse treatment.

Advanced muscular dystrophy had left Piergiorgio Welby, 60, paralyzed and confined to a bed, with only a voice synthesizer to communicate for him by interpreting his eye movements. He died of cardiorespiratory arrest in a "very serene" state after being given a cocktail of sedatives, Riccio said. Welby was a week shy of turning 61 years old.

Radical Party member Marco Cappato told a press conference Welby succeeded in his mission to achieve "a step forward in the affirmation of rights in our country."

Up against the courts in a primarily Roman Catholic country, Welby had sought a court order to have his respirator removed and to be sedated, even writing to Italy's president with a plea to let him find peace for his "tortured and shattered body."

Address 'loneliness and despair' of patients

While a judge in Rome recognized Welby's right to refuse treatment, he ruled on Saturday the law could not approve his request since in this case, the end of treatment would result in death. He urged lawmakers to address the issue to provide answers to "the loneliness and despair" of terminally ill patients.

In Italy, assisted suicide can carry a maximum sentence of 15 years of jail time, but Riccio maintained he did not fear any legal repercussions and would answer any of the magistrate's questions about Welby's death.

Meanwhile, Luca Volonte, a senior member of the Union of Christian Democrats party, has called for Riccio to be arrested for murder. 

Welby's pleas divided the country's doctors and politicians. Dozens of supporters turned out in Rome, as well as London and Brussels, for a candlelight vigil on Saturday.

With files from the Associated Press