Uruguay closer to Euthanasia

Go through the process of dying with dignity in the face of an incurable disease that causes unbearable suffering. This is the right you want regulate in Uruguay the Euthanasia Law, whose project is presented jointly by legislators from the government coalition and the opposition.

"Painless, peaceful and respectful of your dignity". This is how the death of those who decide to take advantage of this right should be, according to the text promoted by two deputies: the lawyer Ope Pasquet, of the Colorado Party (center-right), one of the five that make up the government coalition; and the doctor Luis Gallo, from the opposition Broad Front (left).

In this secular country, 55% of the population is in favor of approving euthanasia, according to a survey by the consulting firm Cifra released at the end of July, which shows that among believers of any religion, 44% agree and 34% against.

With a law of "advance directive" existing since 2013, which allows terminal patients to oppose receiving treatments that prolong their life, the new project seeks to abolish the current Penal Code punishment of between 6 months and 6 years in prison for those who "I will determine the other to suicide or I will help him to commit it".

Pasquet began this process in 2020 with the drafting of a project that decriminalized in Uruguay the medical practice of procedures that triggered death; later, thanks to the push of civil society, Gallo developed another project that went further and proposed recognizing euthanasia as a right.

Finally, and after intense debates, both projects were unified in a text that has broad consensus and that could be discussed in September or October by the Chamber of Representatives (Deputies), Gallo explained to Efe.

SAY ENOUGH

In this way, Uruguay, a country internationally recognized for its advances in civil rights and liberties, would add a new legislation that accompanies "the transit that means going from life to death" in a way "as liberating and painless as possible".

This is how activist and psychiatrist Clara Fassler, a member of the Muerte Digna Uruguay group, from which, along with other pro-euthanasia groups, made contributions and reviews of the work of parliamentarians, illustrates for Efe the meaning of euthanasia.

"Medicine has developed a great deal, but we do not have full knowledge and, in certain situations, we have no alternatives, we can provide neither relief nor cure"argues Fassler, with the rigor of someone who has dedicated many of his 78 years of life to caring for patients.

Read Also:  'Article 370' recorded a storming collection in its second weekend

The activist admits that "we don’t know when or how" all human beings die, but "know that you have alternatives" generate "more peace of mind" and add: "Saying enough gives confidence".

"Suffering is something very complicated to accompany and much more to live"says Fassler, who assures that this law generates alternatives so that people "can freely choose how they want to disappear from this world".

Among the legislators opposed to this project is the senator of the ruling National Party (center-right) Carmen Asiaín, who defines herself as "philosophically opposed to any measure that eliminates life".

Forceful in her arguments, the legislator "white" maintains to Efe that "the State does not have to facilitate death, it has to offer measures for health".

For the senator "if it were a matter of freedom, it would have to be enabled (the use of euthanasia) for everyone without discriminating if they are suffering"he states, and exemplifies: "Could a person decide to be a slave to another using their freedom?".

EUTHANASIA, NATURAL DEATH

The bill establishes that death by euthanasia will be considered a natural death and will be recorded as such on the death certificate.

The process will begin when the person submits their request for assistance in dying to a doctor, who will inform them of the available treatments, including palliative care.

When the professional considers that the person complies with health conditions "chronic, incurable and irreversible"the case will be presented to a second, or even a third doctor, if there is no consensus on the diagnosis.

Afterwards, the patient must reiterate his will and, once the procedure is done, the acting doctor must inform the public health authorities, who will verify that the provisions of the law were complied with.

The rule also includes conscientious objection for doctors and other health personnel.

BROAD SOCIAL CONSENSUS

Despite the existence of the aforementioned law of "advance directive"approved in 2009 and regulated in 2013 by the Executive of the leftist José Mujica (2010-2015), the practice of euthanasia is still considered a crime in Uruguay.

The survey presented by Cifra, which shows only 25% of the population against it, states that the factor that weighs the most to unbalance the balance is religion and this will be precisely one of the flags, along with the ethical reasons, that those who oppose will exhibit to regulation.

In the coming months, the debate will intensify between them and the majority, who agree with legislating to die with dignity.

Recent Articles

Related News

Leave A Reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here