Ecuador has become the second country in Latin America, after Colombia, to decriminalize euthanasia. The country’s constitutional court voted seven to two in favor of allowing doctors to assist patients in dying. This decision came after a lawsuit brought by Paola Roldán, a woman suffering from ALS, a neurological disease. Ms. Roldán argued that she wanted to end her pain and suffering with dignity. The court ruled that clinicians working to preserve the right to a dignified life would no longer be charged with homicide. The Roman Catholic Church, predominant in Ecuador, remains opposed to euthanasia. Ms. Roldán expressed relief and stated that her country had become more welcoming and dignified. However, her father expressed mixed feelings, acknowledging the historic significance of the ruling but also the sorrow of potentially losing his daughter. While a bill on euthanasia must still be drafted and approved by Congress, Ms. Roldán’s lawyer believes the ruling is immediately enforceable.
