Uruguayan bishops lament passage of euthanasia bill
In a landmark decision, Uruguay's lower house of Congress has approved a bill decriminalizing euthanasia, marking a significant shift in the country's end-of-life policies. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The proposed law permits any adult who is mentally fit and at a terminal stage of an incurable and irreversible pathology to request euthanasia. This decision comes as Uruguay has recently become one of the least Catholic countries in Latin America, with 47% of its citizens professing no faith at all, according to the Latinobarrómetro survey.
However, the decision has sparked controversy, particularly among the Uruguayan bishops' conference. The bishops have vigorously opposed the bill since its introduction, asserting that killing a patient is unethical, even if they expressly request it. Their statement, titled "Facing the End of Life with Love," emphasizes that neither the patient, healthcare provider, nor family members have the right to decide or cause a person's death.
The bishops did not ask President Yamandú Orsi to veto the euthanasia law if it were passed. Instead, they emphasized the importance of care, support, and promoting palliative care. The bishops' conference supports palliative care that cares for and accompanies the patient with dignity.
Palliative sedation, however, is considered ethical, according to the bishops' statement. This process involves the use of medication to induce a deep sleep or coma in a patient who is experiencing unbearable suffering with serious and progressive deterioration of their quality of life.
President Yamandú Orsi has expressed support for the measure "as long as extreme care and safeguards are taken." He met with the bishops' conference on Aug. 5 to discuss the bill.
The approval of the Dignified Death Law was a close vote, with a 64-29 margin. A survey by Cifra found that 62% of Uruguayans support the euthanasia bill.
Two Latin American countries, Colombia and Ecuador, have also legalized euthanasia following constitutional court decisions. The author of this article, David Agren, writes for the website from Buenos Aires.
As for President Yamandú Orsi's future plans regarding the implementation of the law on legal euthanasia, there are no available search results that provide this information.
This development in Uruguay's healthcare policy is a testament to the evolving attitudes towards end-of-life decisions in Latin America. As the debate continues, it is crucial to maintain a focus on compassionate care, respect for patient autonomy, and ethical considerations.
