The new law permits euthanasia, administered by healthcare professionals, but does not allow assisted suicide, where patients self-administer lethal medication
Newsroom (16/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) Uruguay’s Senate voted on Wednesday to decriminalize euthanasia, making the small South American nation the first in predominantly Catholic Latin America to legalize the practice through legislation. The landmark decision places Uruguay among a select group of countries worldwide that permit seriously ill patients to seek medical assistance to end their lives.
The bill, which cleared its final legislative hurdle with a 20-11 Senate vote, follows its approval by a wide margin in the lower house in August. The law now awaits implementation by the government, marking a significant step in a region where debates over euthanasia have intensified in recent years. Colombia and Ecuador have previously decriminalized the practice through Supreme Court rulings, while Chile’s President Gabriel Boric has recently renewed efforts to advance a stalled euthanasia bill in its Senate.
“Public opinion is asking us to take this on,” said Sen. Patricia Kramer of Uruguay’s ruling Broad Front coalition during the debate in Montevideo. The coalition, which has championed progressive reforms, framed the legislation as a natural extension of Uruguay’s history of social liberalization, including its pioneering legalization of recreational marijuana, same-sex marriage, and abortion.
The debate saw impassioned arguments from supporters, who likened euthanasia to other hard-won rights like divorce and marriage equality (gay “marriage”). “We all believe and feel that life is a right, both in health and in sickness, but it should never be an obligation because others don’t understand such unbearable suffering,” said Sen. Daniel Borbonet, citing testimonies from Uruguayans with irreversible medical conditions.
Opposition to the bill was led primarily by the Catholic Church, a powerful force in Latin America. Montevideo’s Archbishop Daniel Sturla urged citizens to “defend the gift of life” and ensure that every person is “cared for, accompanied, and supported until the end.” However, Uruguay’s deeply secular culture—evident in its ban on religious references in oaths of office and its designation of Christmas as “Family Day”—has weakened traditional resistance to such reforms in this nation of 3.5 million.
The new law permits euthanasia, administered by healthcare professionals, but does not allow assisted suicide, where patients self-administer lethal medication. Unlike euthanasia laws in places like the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, which typically restrict eligibility to those with a life expectancy of six months to a year, Uruguay’s legislation imposes no such time limit. It allows anyone with an incurable illness causing “unbearable suffering” to seek assisted death, even if their condition is not terminal.
To qualify, patients must be mentally competent, with two doctors required to confirm psychological fitness for the decision. While the law does not explicitly prohibit euthanasia for mental health conditions like depression, it includes safeguards to ensure mental competency. Unlike Belgium, Colombia, and the Netherlands, Uruguay will not permit euthanasia for minors.
Vice President Carolina Cosse hailed the law’s passage as a “historic event,” reinforcing Uruguay’s reputation as a socially progressive leader in the region. “This places Uruguay at the forefront in addressing deeply human and sensitive issues,” she said.
The legislation, which faced a five-year journey through Uruguay’s Congress, reflects growing regional momentum on euthanasia. Fierce debates and activism have swept Latin America, with advocates arguing for individual autonomy and opponents raising ethical and religious concerns. Uruguay’s move could set a precedent for other nations in the region grappling with similar questions about the right to die.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now and AP
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