Respect To Will
Argentina Senate passes dignified death law
Susana Bustamante, whose 19-year-old daughter Melina (seen in the inset photo) had pleaded to be allowed to die to escape the pain from her degenerative condition, welcomed the new law.Photo: Reuters
The Argentine Senate has approved a dignified death law to give the terminally ill and their families more say in end-of-life decisions, reports BBC. The legislation means patients who are dying or suffering incurable illness or injury can refuse treatment, if there is an existing signed consent form. Until now, a court order was needed to end treatment or life support. The aim is to respect the autonomous will of the patient. In cases where patients are unable to speak for themselves, the legislation empowers relatives or legal representatives to make the decision. During the debate, some senators expressed concern about ending life support or withdrawing feeding tubes from a patient unable to communicate. The Roman Catholic Church rejected the new legislation, arguing that life support should never be stopped.
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