Mexico: Right-to-die bill passed

Mexico’s senate unanimously approved a proposal that would allow terminally ill patients the right to refuse treatment.

The right-to-die bill was modifies an existing law by allowing those “suffering incurable diseases and a life expectancy of under six months” to refuse medical treatments designed to keep them alive. Yet it cannot be classified as euthanasia since the bill doesn’t permit assisted suicide.

The proposal was unanimously backed by the Senate including members from the ruling conservative National Action Party (PAN):

“I have seen cases where the family loses all they have due to doctor’s stubbornness,” (leading PAN legislator Ernesto) Saro said. “Another problem is that hospitals don’t have enough equipment.”

Naturally, Mexico’s Roman Catholic Church is expected to oppose the measure.

Image- BBC News
Sources- The Latin Americanist, Reuters, Al Jazeera English, Bloomberg, Canadian Press