"Uruguay legalized euthanasia on Wednesday, becoming the first country in Latin America to pass a law that allows terminally ill people to opt for assisted death. The Uruguayan Senate approved the so-called "Dignified Death" bill, which received 20 votes in favor out of a total of 31. The lower house had already passed the bill in August with a large majority."
"Uruguay stands out for its long history of socially liberal laws in a predominantly Catholic Latin America. It has been a pioneer in the region to pass laws allowing legalized cannabis, same-sex marriages and abortion. More than 60% of Uruguayans support legal euthanasia, with only 24% opposed, according to a recent poll. In Latin America, Colombia and Ecuador have decriminalized the euthanasia , albeit without passing laws to legalize the practice. Meanwhile, Cuba allows for terminal patients to refuse being kept alive artificially."
Uruguay legalized euthanasia with Senate approval of the "Dignified Death" bill by a 20-11 vote after a large lower-house majority. The law permits an adult Uruguayan citizen who is mentally sound and in the terminal stage of an irreversible disease to choose euthanasia performed by a healthcare professional. The law prohibits assisted suicide via patient self-administration of a prescribed lethal dose. Uruguay has enacted other socially liberal laws including legalized cannabis, same-sex marriage and abortion. Polling shows more than 60% support and 24% opposition. Colombia and Ecuador decriminalized euthanasia without formal legalization, and Cuba allows refusal of artificial life support. The Catholic Church expressed sadness.
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