The organization Libertad para Morir (Freedom to Die) is spearheading a citizen initiative to regulate medical assistance in dying in Mexico City. This measure would allow individuals with serious, incurable illnesses to request help ending their lives, subject to established medical and legal criteria.
Asunción Álvarez del Río—president of Libertad para Morir, a researcher at the UNAM Faculty of Medicine, and a bioethics specialist—explained that the proposal encompasses two modalities: euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Regarding euthanasia, she explained that it involves a physician performing the action that causes death following a patient’s request; medically assisted suicide, meanwhile, occurs when healthcare personnel provide the medication and the individual administers it themselves.
The initiative proposes that such assistance be available to adults capable of making free and voluntary decisions who are facing suffering deemed intolerable or a serious, irreversible medical condition with no possibility of a cure.
Álvarez del Río detailed that the procedure establishes several safeguards to ensure the decision is informed and voluntary.
She explained that the initial request would be evaluated by a physician, who would review the patient’s clinical condition and verify compliance with legal requirements.
After a period of approximately 10 days, the individual would be required to confirm their decision and undergo an assessment by a second, independent physician.
If both specialists determine that the criteria are met, a committee would then have to authorize the assistance.
The researcher noted that the proposal also recognizes the right of medical personnel to conscientious objection—but only on an individual basis. Consequently, public and private institutions would be required to ensure the availability of physicians to handle these cases.
No physician is compelled to participate; however, institutions must ensure there are non-objecting physicians available to provide this assistance when an individual meets the legal criteria.
The initiative does not allow a person to request assistance in dying solely for economic, familial, or emotional reasons; rather, it focuses on situations involving suffering caused by serious illnesses within the context of medical care. Álvarez del Río explained that extending this right to anyone wishing to end their life presents a distinct and complex debate, given the need to establish mechanisms that distinguish between an autonomous decision and situations where a person is experiencing a temporary crisis that could be resolved with care and support.
During the interview, she noted that countries like Switzerland permit assisted suicide under certain conditions, although in practice, there are also restrictions related to medical evaluations and legal safeguards.
The citizen initiative requires at least 20,000 signatures to compel the Mexico City Congress to debate and vote on the measure.
As of July 9, Álvarez del Río reported that just over 4,000 signatures had been gathered; she noted that they aim to exceed the minimum requirement to account for potential inconsistencies during the validation process.
Signatures are collected via the National Electoral Institute’s (INE) “Apoyo Ciudadano” (Citizen Support) app, a tool that verifies the identity of those backing the proposal.
However, participation is limited to individuals with a valid Mexico City voter ID, as the initiative is intended for presentation to the capital’s Congress.
The president of Libertad para Morir (Freedom to Die) encouraged supporters to sign the petition by downloading the app, validating their INE voter ID, taking a photo, and registering their digital signature.
The initiative also has the backing of experts such as legal scholar Diego Valadés, who described it as a citizen-led proposal seeking to expand human rights regarding dignity and freedom of choice at the end of life.
“The proposed legislation on medical assistance in dying in Mexico City is an exemplary initiative; it is characterized by the strength of its arguments, the rigor of its legislative drafting, and the relevance of its objective: dying with dignity,” Valadés stated.
Source: aristeguinoticias
