Uruguay has officially legalized euthanasia, becoming the first country in Latin America to pass a law allowing assisted suicide, the BBC reported, News.bg reports.
The bill on "death with dignity" was approved by the Senate with 20 votes "in favor" and gives the right to mentally healthy adults suffering from irreversible terminal illnesses to choose euthanasia performed by a qualified medical professional.
The debate in parliament lasted nearly ten hours, and according to sociological surveys, about 62% of Uruguayans support the idea of assisted suicide.
According to Under the new law, anyone wishing to end their life in this way must personally and in writing declare their wish. The condition is that the person be a citizen of Uruguay or a legal resident. Euthanasia will be carried out in such a way that death occurs in a painless, peaceful and dignified manner.
By comparison, euthanasia has already been decriminalized in Colombia and Ecuador, but Uruguay is the first country to introduce a clear legal framework regulating the procedure in its entirety.