Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:29pm on 17 Oct 2025,Friday International
On October 15, 2025, Uruguay’s Senate legalized euthanasia, becoming the first Latin American country to do so through legislation. Approved by 20 of 31 senators after five years of debate, the law allows terminally ill or severely suffering patients to request medical assistance to end their lives, provided they are mentally competent and approved by two doctors. Unlike Colombia and Ecuador, Uruguay’s law stems from legislative action, not court rulings. Minors are excluded, and assisted suicide remains prohibited. The move, reflecting growing secularism, strengthens Uruguay’s progressive image alongside legalized marijuana, same-sex marriage, and abortion, despite opposition from the Catholic Church.
