Abstract

HURTADO MEDINA, Manuel José. La eutanasia en Colombia desde una perspectiva bioética. Revista médica Risaralda [online]. 2015, vol.21, n.2, pp.49-51. ISSN 0122-0667.

Euthanasia is the voluntary termination of a person life that suffers a terminal illness; it can be applied actively or passively, as well as voluntary or involuntary. This procedure must be viewed from the perspective of the patient, prioritizing their autonomy and freedom in making decisions about their disease and the application of a dignified death. In Colombia, the Constitutional Court, legalized euthanasia in 1997, creating the option for people suffering an incurable and terminally ill, can seek to end their life; however the Congress, in 18 years failed to conduct its regulations, so the Court in 2014 ordered the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to create an administrative route to make the adjustment, thus forming a committee to meet active euthanasia requests and presenting the general guidelines for implementing the right to die with dignity on terminally ill patients. Thus, Colombia became the first developing country to legalize active euthanasia, although some concepts were incomplete in the resolution of the Ministry of Health, thus suggesting that the discussion with experts will continue to ensure that health practices recommended comply with the terms stated by the Constitutional Court.

Keywords : Patient autonomy; Bioethics; Colombia; Terminal illness; Euthanasia; Death with dignity.

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