Euthanasia is legalized in Uruguay, the first country in Latin America.

The law was passed on Wednesday when 20 out of 31 senators in the upper house of the Uruguayan Parliament voted in favor of it. Earlier in August, this bill had also been passed in the lower house with an overwhelming majority. With this, Uruguay has become the first country in Latin America where euthanasia has been given legal recognition. Whereas this area is mainly considered to be dominated by Catholic Christians.

Senator Patricia Kramer, leader of the ruling leftist coalition, said that this decision is in line with the sentiments of the common people. He called it a human right and compared it to other social reforms like divorce and gay marriage. Although euthanasia is legal in many other countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Colombia, Uruguay’s law differs from these countries in some respects. Some of its points have been changed, which are convenient and logical.

Euthanasia in Uruguay is only valid for adults – minors will not be allowed to do so. Furthermore, the law does not say that the person’s death due to the disease must be certain in the next 6 or 12 months, as is the case in countries like the US, Australia and New Zealand. Here merely having an incurable and painful disease is enough. However, the person applying for euthanasia must be mentally competent to understand the serious consequences of his decision. With this decision, Uruguay has not only made a major reform in its medical system, but has also taken a bold step in the field of personal freedom and human rights.