"There are many more degenerative disease patients like me. If we ask to die with dignity, it is because our lives ended a long time ago. ”
Written by | Yan Xiaoliu
Source | "Medical Community" public account
Victor Escobar suffered from 17 serious chronic diseases and applied for euthanasia 3 times.
According to the relevant court ruling in Colombia, on the night of January 7, local time, victor, 60, completed euthanasia injections with medical help. This makes it the first person in Colombia and latin America to be "not terminal but legally euthanized".
Victor made his last moments video and made it public through his lawyers.
Facing the camera, he smiled and said, "I have won the opportunity for non-terminally ill people to dominate their lives." ”
Victor Escobar, left, snuggled up on a couch on Oct. 19, 2021. /Reuters
By the end of 2021, seven countries worldwide have passed euthanasia-related decrees. Colombia is the only developing country among them.
In 2014, Colombian legislation regulates euthanasia procedures, allowing people with end-stage illness with a life expectancy of less than 6 months to complete euthanasia with medical assistance.
In 2015, Ovidio Gonzalez, a 79-year-old patient with late cancer, became the country's first legally assisted euthanasiar.
Ovidio Gonzalez in 2015. /BBC
According to DescLab, a Colombian legal rights advocacy group, a total of 178 people in the country had died with medical assistance by October 15, 2021.
However, Victor's situation is different.
He suffered two strokes and suffered from 17 chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, depression, pulmonary hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and took dozens of medications a day.
Victor's job requires frequent exposure to the carcinogen asbestos. He thinks this is the cause of copd. /AFP
Especially after being diagnosed with COPD in 2008, Victor felt that "one day is not as good as a day". The breathing function is constantly decreasing, and I can't breathe without the oxygen cylinder.
When you breathe deeply, there is pain between the ribs that cannot be wrapped around. Coughing can be bleeding.
The cramps of his body made him lose his ability to take care of himself and could only walk in a wheelchair.
Image from AP
"But I'm not a terminally ill person." Victor told Colombian media outlet El Espectador that between 2019 and October 2021, he twice applied for assisted euthanasia through "public health insurance", but both were rejected.
Neither hospitals nor doctors supported his claim. "The medical evaluation said that the analgesics could relieve my discomfort. I follow my doctor's advice on a daily basis and my life expectancy is over 6 months. Victor said, "They say, I can live a long time. ”
The change appeared in July 2021.
The High Constitutional Court of Colombia announced that it will extend the scope of assisted euthanasia to "patients with non-moderate to advanced cancers who suffer physical and psychological harm due to serious incurable diseases". Life expectancy of 6 months is no longer a "required condition". Informed consent is required to be presented when applying, and health professionals are required to participate in the assessment.
The country was the first Latin American country to take this step and one of the few in the world.
Victor then applied for the third time, which was granted by a court ruling in December of that year.
This was violently attacked by the church. The local church statement said: "Any act or omission to choose death to escape suffering constitutes murder." ”
"There are many more degenerative disease patients like me. If we ask to die with dignity, it is because our lives ended a long time ago. Victor told The Associated Press.
"I'm not afraid of what's going to happen," Said Victor, who would say goodbye to his wife, three children and other relatives and friends after lunch and wait for the moment.
Victor's lawyer, Luis Giraldo, told AFP that Victor died in the city of Cali late in the night of January 7, accompanied by his family.
As a result of signing the organ donation consent before his death, Victor donated a well-functioning organ. The body was later cremated.
On January 7, 2022, Victor and his family dressed up and went to the medical institution that helped him euthanize. Family members declined to disclose details of the agency. /Twitter
The day after Victor's death, Martha Sepulveda, 51, also completed the last item of her "bucket list": euthanasia.
Martha was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as frostbite, in 2018. Doctors say the course of the disease progresses to the end of the stage, which may take three or four years.
In October 2021, Martha was authorized by the executive hospital and the court to accept "euthanasia". But just a day before the implementation, Martha was notified of "not meeting the conditions" and immediately canceled the relevant procedures. Since then, her lawyers, DescLab and others have filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court to reject the "cancellation" decision.
"My mom is a warrior. Now, she has left us with dignity. Martha's family statement said.
Martha Sepulveda with her child, infographic. /Washingtonpost
Source:
1.First Colombian with non-terminal illness dies legally by euthanasia. Reuters
2.Colombian man felt tranquil before euthanasia ended his pain. ABC News
3.60-year-old Colombian becomes first Latin American to die publicly under new euthanasia policy. AFP
4.Physician-assisted dying legislation around the world. BMA
5.Assisted suicide. WikiPedia
6.Colombian woman's euthanasia blocked days before she was ready to die legally. USA Today
Source: Medical community
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