The project seeks to allow patients with advanced or terminal illnesses to decide whether to undergo assisted dying, under legal regulation.
Mexico City Opens the Door to Debate on Euthanasia Following March for a Dignified Death
Dozens of patients, family members, and activists marched through the Historic Center of Mexico City this Friday to demand the legalization of euthanasia. According to the organizers, the Mexico City government committed to prioritizing debate on the so-called “Ley Trasciende,” which seeks to guarantee the right to a dignified death.
The legislative proposal, promoted by activist and terminally ill patient Samara Martínez and supported by research and more than 200,000 signatures, seeks to decriminalize and regulate medically assisted dying in a painless manner for people with chronic-degenerative illnesses in advanced or terminal stages.
During the demonstration, protesters marched toward the offices of the Mexico City Head of Government to hold a meeting with the capital’s leader, Clara Brugada, to whom they delivered the documentation necessary to promote the project at the local level.
After the meeting, Martínez stated that Brugada expressed her support for moving forward with the discussion.
“She told us that not only she, but the entire local government, is already in favor of making this a priority issue during this legislative session,” the activist told those attending.
Martínez added that there is a commitment to establish a working plan and stated that the capital could become the first state-level jurisdiction in the country to approve a reform of this type before the electoral calendar puts legislative debates on hold.
During the march, local legislators Xóchitl Bravo and Fernando Zárate also received the package of initiatives to begin analyzing them during upcoming sessions.
Euthanasia is prohibited in Mexico
Currently, Mexican law allows advance directives, a mechanism through which terminally ill patients can refuse treatments intended to prolong their lives. However, it prohibits deliberately causing death through active euthanasia.
Throughout the demonstration, participants carried signs and chanted slogans such as “Dignified death now!”, “My body, my life, my freedom,” and “There is an option and it is my decision.”
Víctor Cristóbal, who was diagnosed with cancer of the lymphatic system, explained to EFE the impact that not having this option has on patients.
“The treatments are very painful (…) I would like people to be able to end their journey without pain, peacefully and surrounded by their family,” he said.
“It is something that benefits everyone and it is a right to make decisions for everyone; it is neither fair nor valid to live in pain,” said Ana Grimaldo, another participant in the demonstration.
The debate over euthanasia reached the federal government in April, when Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum considered it a complex issue that “has to be discussed socially” and raised the need to open a broad discussion among citizens and the sectors involved.
Source: aristeguinoticias
