They seek to modify the General Health Law and the Federal Penal Code.

On Tuesday, Mexican activists and organizations presented The ‘Transcend’ Law with 128,000 signatures to the Senate, seeking to legalize euthanasia and “The Right to a Dignified Death.” The activists called for an open parliament to finalize this proposal.

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The Law was promoted by activist Samara Martinez, who lives with end-stage renal disease. She states that the Dignified Death Now Coalition seeks to “define, recognize, and guarantee the constitutional right to a dignified death” in the Mexican Constitution.

The proposal seeks to amend Article 166 of the General Health Law, permitting people over 18 years with chronic-degenerative or terminal illnesses to access, with their informed consent, an assisted death. The activist pointed out that Mexico is socially prepared to take this step.

The Federal Penal Code establishes a penalty of five to twelve years in prison for anyone who assists or induces a person’s suicide. Senator Claudia Edith Anaya stated that “It needs to be legally established. We don’t want to put society in ethical dilemmas.”

The text reads, “”The ‘Transcends Law’ does not seek to promote death, it seeks to humanize it; it seeks to ensure that no Mexican man or woman has to die suffering in pain and fear,” said activist Samara Martinez, a terminally ill patient, as she presented, along with parliamentary groups, the bill in favor of passive and active euthanasia, access to palliative care, and advance directives.”

Twenty out of 32 Mexican states have advance passive euthanasia that allow patients to refuse medical treatment in critical moments. Seven out of ten Mexicans are in favor of euthanasia or medically assisted suicide, according to “For the Right to Die with Dignity” organization.

Meanwhile, senators from various political parties, with the exception of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), pledged to revisit the proposal and present it to the legislative body in the coming months.

Morena Party Senator, Lilia Valdez said she is an ally of the ‘Transcends Law’ and lamented that always, for one reason or another, even in recent legislatures, “there have been petty interests, wherever they come from.”

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE – UnoTV

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