Argentine Senate approves 'dignified death' law

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Argentine Senate approves 'dignified death' law
By MICHAEL WARREN
Published Wednesday May 9, 2012

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentina's senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a "dignified death" law giving terminally ill patients and their families more power to make end-of-life decisions.

The law passed by a vote of 55 to zero, with 17 senators declaring themselves absent. It passed the lower house last year.

Now Argentine families won't have to struggle to find judges to order doctors to end life-support for people who are dying or in a permanent vegetative state. Getting such approval can be very difficult in many countries, particularly in Latin America, where opposition from the Roman Catholic church still runs strong.

"I think it's very good," said Angel Robles, a 71-year-old retired taxi driver with terminal esophageal cancer who entered a hospice last week. "If I'm OK, these are things that I have to decide. But if not, I have confidence in my daughter."

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20120509/AP15/305099920

[Dawson Leery]

1. Rome is losing it's grip on South America.

Brazil has a way to go.

[dmallind]

2. Good for them. Maybe reason and humanity will head northward eventually.

[Beacool]

3. Argentina has become quite progressive.

First country in Latin America to pass gay marriage. There are only 10 countries in the world where gay marriage is legal.