Ecuador’s Constitutional Court has recently decriminalized euthanasia, triggering a wave of controversy. The court defended its decision, asserting that it safeguards the rights to dignified life and personal freedom. According to the court, a doctor administering euthanasia is not subject to a homicide penalty as it could preserve a dignified life for patients.
The ruling is the consequence of a case filed by Paola Roldan, a patient suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative neurological disease. Roldan argued for the right to a dignified death for individuals with severe and incurable diseases. The court gave lawmakers a one-year window to frame regulations for euthanasia while providing Roldan with a fast-tracked process under strict conditions.
The ruling will lead to doctors killing their patients, thus raising ethical concerns. Ecuador, in this transformation, has become the second South American country after Colombia to have a high court overturn laws that safeguard individuals from homicide due to a judicial decision.