[Euthanasia in Mexico #1] Euthanasia Bill Submitted to Congress
- リップディー（RiP:D)
- Nov 15
- 3 min read
[Euthanasia in Mexico]
There has been a major development regarding euthanasia in South America, Mexico.
Aimed at recognizing the right to euthanasia and "death with dignity"
" Ley de la Transición" ( literally: "Beyond the Law")
The so-called euthanasia bill, as it is called in Japanese, has been submitted to the House of Representatives through the lobbying of activist Samara Martinez , and the formal legislative process has begun.
More than 128 senators have already signed on to the bill in the Senate, and it is widely supported by lawmakers and supporters from many political parties.
The lawmakers expressed their support for the bill, saying, "In modern Mexico, fear and ignorance should not hinder people's choices."
The Transcendental Law aims to achieve the following:
Avoid unnecessary suffering and guarantee the right to a dignified end
Providing medical, ethical and humanitarian support for patients and their families
Recognizing compassionate actions as a "right" rather than a "crime"
The target audience is people with terminal illnesses, chronic/degenerative diseases, and severe disabling illnesses.
South America has a " Colombian legacy " (to be discussed in another article) that was influenced by the Dutch euthanasia law, so the scope of application will likely include non-terminal illnesses and mental illnesses .
The published terms are as follows:
be a legal adult
Concurrent diagnosis and consent from two doctors
The person's mental capacity has been confirmed and he or she is free to express his or her will before a notary public.
The intention must be reaffirmed five days after it is expressed.
Euthanasia and assisted suicide are currently banned under Mexican law, but activists are calling for the ban to be lifted.
Samara Martinez
X Account: https://x.com/samaraamm
Samara Martinez herself has undergone long and grueling treatments for end-stage kidney disease , including chemotherapy, transplants and dialysis.
she
" This is not a question of religion or politics, it's a question of human dignity ."
He stresses that euthanasia is a right and a right that should be taken lightly, and strongly calls for the legalization of euthanasia as an option to protect oneself and one's family from unnecessary suffering.
Even before this, there had been growing calls for the establishment of euthanasia in Mexico.
On October 30th, 2024, the Movimiento Ciudadano ( a center-left party) submitted a bill on euthanasia to the Mexico City Congress . This happened in the Mexican "city" Congress , not the Mexican National Congress.
In fact, a euthanasia bill was submitted to the Mexican Congress in the past , but it was unsuccessful. So, local councils (administrations) decided to take the initiative, discuss the matter, and try to get the bill approved.
This is an Italian-style strategy ( see below in the Italy article ).
If the issue cannot move forward because Diet members are riddled with vested interests and ties , this is an attempt to pass the bill on a local level rather than a national level.
The aim is that by local governments (municipalities) promoting and establishing the euthanasia system, the system will eventually be shared throughout the country .
The same is true at the state level in Australia and the United States , but countries with systems that allow for strong local autonomy can adopt such tactics.
Although it has not been covered in an article yet, Uruguay approved a euthanasia bill on October 15th of last month , making it the first country in South America to have an euthanasia system (Article published: Uruguay ).
Some South American countries have already legalized euthanasia, but all of this is based on court decisions and has not been "legally institutionalized."
Attention is focused on whether Mexico will become the second South American country to legalize euthanasia.