Peruvian Woman Passes Away Through Euthanasia Following Length of Time Battling for ‘Dignified End’
Peruvian Woman Dies by Euthanasia After Landmark Court Ruling
Peruvian Woman Dies by Euthanasia After Landmark Court Ruling
LIMA (Reuters) – Ana Estrada, a 47-year-old Peruvian woman suffering from a rare degenerative illness, has passed away after choosing to end her life through euthanasia, following a lengthy court battle that resulted in a groundbreaking ruling allowing her to do so with medical assistance.
Estrada had been living with polymyositis, a condition that causes muscle weakness, for the past thirty years. Bed-ridden and reliant on a ventilator to breathe, she fought for access to euthanasia in 2016, despite it being illegal in Peru. In 2022, the Supreme Court of the Latin American nation granted her an exemption to end her life.
Her lawyer, Josefina Miro Quesada, confirmed her passing on Sunday, expressing gratitude to those who supported Estrada throughout her journey. Euthanasia remains illegal in most countries, including predominantly Roman Catholic Peru, but some nations in Latin America, such as Colombia, Ecuador, and Cuba, have allowed the practice under specific conditions.
In an interview with Reuters following her court victory, Estrada expressed hope that her case would set a legal precedent for the right to assisted suicide. While the Supreme Court ruling did not legalize assisted dying, it did protect the doctor who provided the drug to end Estrada’s life from facing any punishment.
“There will come a time when I will no longer be able to write, or express myself,” Estrada said at the time. “My body fails, but my mind and spirit are happy. I want the last moments of my life to be just like this.”
Estrada’s story sheds light on the complex ethical and legal issues surrounding euthanasia and assisted suicide, sparking a debate on end-of-life choices and individual autonomy. Her courage and determination have left a lasting impact on the fight for the right to die with dignity.
(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Ros Russell)
Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters.
