Peruvian Maria Teresa Benito Orihuela, 66, is a woman who suffers from advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and depends on an external respirator to keep her alive. In February this year, she obtained a court sentence to have a “dignified death.” However, twelve doctors at the Edgardo Rebagliati Hospital where she is being treated have refused to turn off the devices, citing religious freedom laws and conscientious objection.
Orihuela’s lawyers sued the Peruvian court again to force compliance with the first decision. The Superior Court of Justice of Lima ruled that EsSalud, Peru’s public health insurer, has until May 7 to present a doctor who agrees to turn off the devices. This case follows the same pattern as that of Ana Estrada, who died on April 21st due to a degenerative disease and fought a legal battle in Peru to end her own life. Estrada’s case was considered the first of legal euthanasia in Peru.
The decisions in Estrada’s case have been controversial, with concerns raised by the Peruvian Episcopal Conference about euthanasia being an attack on the inalienable right to life. Other Latin American countries have also made advancements in legalizing euthanasia. Ecuador legalized assisted suicide earlier this year, while Cuba approved euthanasia as part of its new public health law last December. Colombia has allowed euthanasia since 1997 but only regulated it in 2015. Hospitals in Colombia now perform assisted suicide on terminally ill patients.