Man becomes first person in Colombia with non-terminal illness to die by legal euthanasia

[Judi Lynn]

Story by Reuters

Updated 5:47 AM ET, Sun January 9, 2022

(CNN) Colombian Victor Escobar became the first person in the Andean country with a non-terminal illness to die by legally regulated euthanasia late on Friday, his lawyer Luis Giraldo confirmed.

"We reached the goal for patients like me, who aren't terminal but degenerative, to win this battle, a battle that opens the doors for the other patients who come after me and who right now want a dignified death," Escobar, 60, said in a video message sent to media by Giraldo.

On Saturday, a second Colombian -- a woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease -- was also euthanized.

Escobar suffered from end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which greatly diminishes quality of life, as well as a number of other conditions, Giraldo told Reuters.

More:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/09/americas/colombia-euthanasia-intl/index.html

[Deuxcents]

1. Death with dignity

I’m in support of this and would hope if I’m faced with such a diagnosis, I could make my decision.

[Judi Lynn]

2. First Colombian with non-terminal illness dies legally by euthanasia

January 8, 2022
6:42 PM CST
Last Updated 2 days ago
Americas

Reuters
2 minute read

BOGOTA, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Colombian Victor Escobar became the first person in the Andean country with a non-terminal illness to die by legally regulated euthanasia late on Friday, his lawyer Luis Giraldo confirmed.

"We reached the goal for patients like me, who aren't terminal but degenerative, to win this battle, a battle that opens the doors for the other patients who come after me and who right now want a dignified death," Escobar, 60 said in a video message sent to media by Giraldo.

On Saturday, a second Colombian, a woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALA), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, was euthanized.

Escobar suffered from end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which greatly diminishes quality of life, as well as a number of other conditions, Giraldo told Reuters.

More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/first-colombian-with-non-terminal-illness-dies-legally-by-euthanasia-2022-01-08/

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Colombian man felt tranquil before euthanasia ended his pain

By ASTRID SUÁREZ
Associated Press

Updated
1/7/2022 9:49 PM

CALI, Colombia -- For the first time in years, Víctor Escobar stopped taking most of the medicines needed for his lung disease. There was no longer any need. On Friday evening, he became the first Colombian to be euthanized despite not yet being in terminal condition.

"I feel an immense tranquility. I don't feel fear of what is to come," Escobar told The Associated Press this week. "They have told me that the process is going to be a slow sedation at first so that I have time to say goodbye.

. . .

After that is the injection of the euthanasia, which is going to be something without pain - a very tranquil death. I trust in God that that all this will be that way,' he said in a weak voice while sitting on a sofa in the small home he had been paying off with a pension of $250 a month.

. . .

Escobar was the first to use a July ruling of the nation's top court that changed the rules for euthanasia, allowing it to be applied to people who suffer intense physical or psychological suffering due to a grave and incurable disease, even if they are not yet near death.

https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20220107/news/301079868