We could infer that every person has a right to a dignified life, rather than a 'dignified death'. Samara Martínez, a terminal illness patient and activist, is promoting the 'Law Transcend' bill in the Senate of the Republic to legalize euthanasia. The initiative seeks to decriminalize medical assistance for a dignified death in the face of irreversible illnesses. The Catholic body referred to that the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation has ruled that a 'dignified death' does not necessarily entail euthanasia and assisted suicide, 'but rather, according to the corresponding studies and international treaties, it refers to a good death, and not a rapid, anticipated, or provoked death'. Meanwhile, the National Bioethics Commission has also stated that 'a good death implies accompanying the person in a terminal illness process with the necessary palliative care to eliminate the pain they suffer'. It is proven that when a person with an illness can eliminate suffering and pain, the last thing they think about is dying; we must fight to eliminate pain, not the sufferer. The initiative, which is in a vital stage in the Mexican Senate, will hold a dialogue on April 16 led by Samara Martínez. You may be interested | Metabolic diseases in Mexico, a huge challenge and an opportunity to improve: Carlos Aguilar Salinas. On April 23, a conversation will be held in the Senate with specialized discussion tables on medical, legal aspects, and the perspective of patients and caregivers. The objective, said Martínez, is to obtain the ruling before April 30 so that the initiative can advance to the next legislative period. According to 2023 data, only 5% of terminal patients have access to palliative care in Mexico. To date, 20 of the 32 federal entities of Mexico have laws on advance directives, also called passive euthanasia, which allow the patient to refuse medical treatment in critical moments. EFE The Mexican Catholic Church criticized this Sunday the bill presented in the Mexican Senate to redefine 'dignified death'. It added that with this concept, they seek to accept that 'giving death to a person with a terminal or degenerative disease is part of their 'dignity''. 'This is a sophism that tends to be promoted, arguing that a life with suffering is not a dignified life. However, from an ontological point of view, every life is dignified in itself, regardless of the circumstances it is going through,' pointed out the Archdiocese of Mexico in its editorial of the weekly 'Desde la fe'. Every person is dignified in themselves and has the right to preserve their life.
