Colombian clinic reverses decision to perform euthanasia on woman

A Colombian clinic on Saturday reversed its decision to
perform euthanasia on a woman citing that she failed to meet the requirements
for being terminal, NBC News reported.

Martha Sepúlveda Campo, 51 was ready to die on
Sunday in the Instituto Colombiano del Dolor centre, located in Antioquia.

Also Read: Euthanasia: Where it’s legal in Europe

Campo has been suffering from a degenerative illness since
2019. Her symptoms became worse over time, to a point where she could no longer walk without help. She was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or
ALS, an illness of the nervous system illness that impairs movement and is deadly, but death
might occur months or years later.

“In the state that I have it, the best thing that can
happen to me is to rest,” Sepúlveda remarked in an interview with Colombian television
network Noticias Caracol.

Also Read: European countries that have decriminalised euthanasia

After the Antioquia-based clinic’s community refused
Sepúlveda’s request for euthanasia, it was uncertain whether her family would take
legal action to force the procedure to go ahead.

In 1997, Colombia became the first Latin American country
to decriminalise euthanasia, and it is now one of the few countries in the
world where the practice is allowed. Until this year, euthanasia was allowed only for patients with terminal disease.

According to the EFE news agency, the Colombian
Constitutional Court broadened the right on July 22, authorising the treatment
“provided that the patient suffers intense physical or mental suffering from
bodily injury or serious and incurable disease,” 

Sepúlveda applied for a permit four days later, and it was
approved on August 6.

Also Read: Spain legalises euthanasia, assisted suicide; 4th European nation to do so

Her 11 siblings had backed her decision, and her son had
been by her side during what she believed were her dying days. However, her
mother was not in favour of the idea mostly due to religious concerns.

In a country with a vast majority of Roman Catholic
Christians, and where the church still considers euthanasia a “serious
offence,” her choice has sparked outrage.