Psychologist Ana Estrada suffers from an incurable disease and has been asking for a “dignified death” for years
For the first time in the history of Peru, the Supreme Court of that country authorized euthanasia for the psychologist on Thursday Anna Estradasuffering incurable disease. This confirms a first instance order that will allow someone to take their own life when she wants it and is not punished.
The court indicated in a note that Supreme Judge Augusto Ruidías’s decision added the four votes in favor necessary to grant this right to Estrada, 45. Two other supreme judges had already voted against. Ruidías held a session in June to decide his vote.
The court said it remains to decide the “protocol of action” on how Estrada’s right to die with dignity will be enforced. A social security official will carry out euthanasia.
Estrada’s right to a dignified death was motivated by a request for amparo made by the Ombudsman on behalf of the psychologist. The Ombudsman stated in an official statement that he was informed of the decision by the Supreme Court.
liquidation it does not open up the possibility of further euthanasia, will only apply to Estrada. “It’s a truly transcendent phrase because recognizes the right to decide in the final part of his lifeto end suffering, to end a condition that in the end he might consider not worth living, ” Walter Gutiérrez, Estrada’s lawyer, told public television.
“The State had expropriated, not only Ana, but the citizens in general that right, because it is possible that in the end we have a disease that deteriorates us, that makes us suffer and that makes our existence irresistible, then it is an essential right because the right to freedom is recognizedthe right to dignity and the right are recognized not to undergo cruel and inhuman treatmentGutierrez added.
Estrada has not yet ruled on the Supreme Court decision.
In June, Estrada attended Judge Ruidíaz’s session from her medical bed in her bedroom, which she describes as a kind of “intensive care unit”. I wasn’t asking to die right awaybut to take control of one’s will, one’s autonomy and one’s decisions.
He said his deterioration process cannot be changed, but the “epilogue” of his life can be if they let him decide. “I want the power to access the euthanasia procedure when I can no longer suffer in life and I want to say goodbye to my loved ones in peace and quiet, ” she said.
On that occasion Estrada told the judge that she has been assisted by a nurse for several years and “bedridden, connected to a fan” to breathe through a hole in the trachea in an increasingly “difficult and exhausting” procedure. With short hair and eyeglasses, she thanked the judge for allowing him to participate and added, “I hope, with all due respect, that being the last one, which would mean that I have won my right to decide on my life ‘‘.
Estrada has suffered for more than 30 years from an incurable disease called polymyositis it has paralyzed almost all of his muscles. Despite this, she studied and practiced the profession until five years ago her deterioration forced her to stay in bed compromising her respiratory muscles.
In her apartment located in a middle-class neighborhood of Lima, Estrada writes a blog titled “Ana for a dignified death”, where she tells the reasons that led her to make that decision. In 2019 you wrote “dignified death in Peru is illegal, I live in a state that takes away my freedom and a life without freedom is not life because my body belongs to this state”.
Euthanasia in Peru is not allowed e Anyone who helps someone else to die who requests it is punished with up to three years’ imprisonment.. An exception will be made in the case of Estrada.
DB
Source: Clarin
