Peruvian woman dies by euthanasia after years-long fight for 'dignified death'
A Peruvian woman suffering from a degenerative illness has passed away through euthanasia following a lengthy court battle that culminated in a groundbreaking ruling permitting her to end her life with medical assistance, as confirmed by her lawyer on Monday.
Ana Estrada, aged 47, had grappled with a rare incurable condition known as polymyositis, resulting in muscle weakness, for the past thirty years. Bedridden and reliant on a ventilator for breathing, she succumbed on Sunday, according to her lawyer Josefina Miro Quesada.
Estrada, a psychologist, initiated legal proceedings in 2016 to advocate for access to euthanasia, which is illegal in Peru. In 2022, the country's Supreme Court upheld a verdict granting Estrada an exception to terminate her life.
"Ana's departure has left us deeply grateful to all those who lent her a voice, stood by her during this battle, and wholeheartedly supported her decision with love," Miro Quesada remarked.
The majority of countries, including Peru, maintain euthanasia as illegal, particularly in regions like Latin America with strong Roman Catholic influences. Nonetheless, Colombia, Ecuador, and Cuba have permitted euthanasia under specific conditions.
In a Reuters interview following her legal victory, Estrada expressed her desire for her case to establish a legal precedent for the right to assisted suicide. Peruvian law penalizes assisting someone's suicide or ending the life of a terminally ill patient with imprisonment.
While the Supreme Court's decision did not legalize assisted dying outright, it shielded the doctor who provided the euthanasia drug for Estrada from legal repercussions.
"There will come a time when I can no longer write or express myself," Estrada reflected previously. "My body may fail, but my mind and spirit are content. I wish for the final moments of my life to reflect this."
Comments