Uruguay became the first country in Latin America to legalise euthanasia

¨     Uruguay became the first country in Latin America to legalise euthanasia.

¨     The decision made it one of only a dozen nations worldwide to permit assisted dying.

¨     Uruguay has a tradition of progressive reforms, having earlier legalised abortion, same-sex marriage, and marijuana.

¨     The Senate approved the “Dignified Death” bill with 20 votes in favour out of 31 legislators present.

¨     This vote followed a similar approval by the Chamber of Representatives in August.

¨     Lawmakers debated the bill for nearly ten hours, calling it one of the toughest moral issues.

¨     In other Latin American countries, only Colombia and Ecuador have decriminalised euthanasia through court rulings, not legislation.

¨     Cuba permits terminally ill patients to refuse artificial life support but not assisted suicide.

¨     The new law allows mentally sound adults who are terminally ill and suffering from incurable diseases to request assisted death.