The Senate of Uruguay will vote on the euthanasia bill, backed by multiple parties, making the country the third in the Americas to legalize it.
The Senate of Uruguay is set to approve the Dignified Death bill this Wednesday, legalizing active euthanasia for patients suffering from incurable illnesses and unbearable pain. If passed, Uruguay would become the third country in the Americas to permit the practice.
Originally introduced in 2020 by former Colorado Party lawmaker Ope Pasquet, the bill was approved by the Chamber of Representatives in July and now faces its final vote in the upper chamber. It is expected to pass with support from the ruling Broad Front, as well as members of the Colorado and National parties.
The law guarantees the right to “die with dignity” and provides a legal framework for adults who are mentally competent and facing terminal or irreversible illnesses. It outlines detailed procedures, medical requirements, and ethical safeguards to ensure transparency and prevent misuse.
“Both Uruguayan citizens and foreign residents may be covered by this law,” the text states.
Uruguay’s model is inspired by the systems in Belgium and the Netherlands, which legalized euthanasia in 2002. With this step, Uruguay joins Colombia, which decriminalized euthanasia in 1997, and Canada, which followed in 2016.
In Colombia, euthanasia has been steadily practiced since the first legal case in 2015, with 270 procedures recorded in 2023. In Canada, 15,343 people received medical assistance in dying last year, a 15.8% increase over 2022.
Empatía Uruguay, a civil group advocating for the right to die with dignity, celebrated the milestone: “Tomorrow, euthanasia becomes legal in Uruguay!” they posted on social media. Once approved, the law will place the country at the forefront of Latin America’s human rights and end-of-life legislation.
