The Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay began to debate this Tuesday (12) the bill “Dignified Death”, which aims to legalize euthanasia in the country.
At the extraordinary session, President Yamandú Orsi’s party deputy Luis Gallo was the first to take the word and pointed out that according to a survey conducted by consulting firm, 62% of the population agrees with the legalization of euthanasia.
Gallo indicated that the number of Uruguayans who agree with the procedure has grown 7% in the last five years, and that only 24% disagree.
The parliamentarian also said that his colleagues should wonder if they are willing to incorporate into Uruguay’s legislation the right of every person to decide on the end of his own life.
“I understand the different ideological, religious, philosophical, moral and ethical perspectives that coexist in this enclosure and that so much enrich it. I ask that, in its heart, each one can analyze in depth and with sensitivity and responsibility which response we will give to citizens such as Pablo, Beatriz and many others,” said Gallo.
The deputy referred to two people who suffer from terminal diseases and seek legalization of euthanasia.
In conversation with the press, the deputy of the right -wing national party, Rodrigo Goñi, stated that he will vote against, arguing that “the vast majority of people who suffer want to continue living without suffering.”
“This is what today we should prioritize in this parliament, not the sad possibility of offering death to patients. It is one before and after not only the legislation but also of the morals of a people,” he said.
Five years after the first momentum for the legalization of euthanasia in Uruguay, the new bill supported by the government and part of the opposition will be submitted to vote on Tuesday in the House of Representatives.
This proposal is different from a project approved by the House in 2022 that did not come to the Senate for not obtaining the necessary votes in the Health Commission, which sought to ensure the right to “decently pass through the process of dying” by decriminalizing euthanasia, over psychologically able to terminally incurable and irreversible diseases or facing “unbearable suffering”.
If you receive the SIM from more than half of the 99 deputies, the bill will return to the health committee, today, reformulated compared to 2022.
Catholic Church positions itself against
Last Monday, the Catholic Church in Uruguay manifested itself against the legalization of euthanasia in the country, considering “ethically unacceptable.”
The position came through a video, where, nine bishops, together expressed the position of the church.
“The dignity of each person is an absolute, inalienable gift that is never lost. For God, each life is infinitely loved and worthy of all our care. Our society must welcome, protect and accompany each person until the end of their earthly life. We say a sound to palliative care. Taking care, relieves and comforting with love and professionalism,” says the message.
Catholic Church in Uruguay positions against pointing out that “human life is a fundamental, non -transferable and inalienable right” EFE/EPA/Christophe Petit Tesson (Foto: EFE/EPA/Christophe Petit Tesson)“We all have the right to be cared for and cared for. Jesus taught us not to leave anyone on the sidelines. We say a noise not to euthanasia. Cause a patient’s death is ethically unacceptable.”
“Human life is a fundamental, non -transferable and inalienable right. It cannot be manipulated,” adds the message of the representatives of the Church in Uruguay.
