Law in Colombia
On March 9, 2018, Colombia passed a resolution permitting euthanasia for children.
For children ages 7 to 12, parental consent is required in addition to the child’s request. Adolescents 12 to 14 years old may also obtain euthanasia with the consent of their parents. Children ages 14 or older may consent for themselves without any parental agreement.
Background:
On May 20, 1997, Colombia’s Supreme Court ruled that penalties for mercy killing should be removed and doctors be permitted to end patients’ lives by euthanasia. (Republic of Colombia Constitutional Court, Sentence # c-239/97, Ref. Expedient # D-1490, May 20, 1997.)
Text of Court Decision
However the decision was to be delayed until guidelines for the practice were approved by the Colombian Congress.
The guidelines were not approved until 18 years later, on April 20, 2015, paving the way for doctors to practice euthanasia by lethal injection.
On March 9, 2018, Colombia passed a resolution permitting euthanasia for children.
Articles
“Colombia has regulated Euthanasia for Children and Adolescents”
(Latin American Post — March 13, 2018)
Resolution 825 of 2018, issued by the Department of Health and Social Protection of Colombia, ordered “the urgent issuance of the regulation that guarantees the right to death worthy of children and adolescents.”
“Colombian Public Doctors Must Now Provide Euthanasia By Law”
(Pan Am Post — June 4, 2015)
A new ruling by Colombia’s Constitutional Court means that public health institutions, and all the doctors who wok in them, will be unable to refuse a patient’s request for assisted suicide.
“Step closer to legal euthanasia”
(The Bogota Post — May 10, 2015)
The measures make Colombia part of an exclusive list where euthanasia is legal — along with the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg….In the case of unconscious patients, family members need to prove that their loved one has expressed their desire to end their life, be it in writing or by means of audio and video.
“Colombia just legalized euthanasia. Here’s why that’s a big deal”
(Global Post — April 29, 2015)
Euthanasia is when a third party actually administers the fatal dose, usually by fatal injection….Colombia’s constitutional court actually ruled in favor of euthanasia back in 1997…The Health Ministry’s new protocol finally puts the court ruling into practice.
