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The Senate of the Republic has unanimously approved the reform to the 4th constitutional article , which incorporates the palliative care for terminal, limiting, or life-threatening illnesses.
The bill establishes the right to use controlled medication to handle the situation. “Every person has the right to the protection of his or her health in dignified conditions,” reads the text.
Palliative care
comprises an approach that improves the quality of life of the patients and their families. It focuses on easing the suffering and improving the quality of life of the patients and their families. Its objective is not to heal the illness itself, but to lessen the symptoms when a person faces a potentially mortal illness.
A terminal illness manifests as an advanced, progressive, and incurable condition , with no answer to specific treatment, with multifactorial symptoms and limited life prognosis . In this sense, palliative care is the best option when there are no possibilities of healing .
Most of those who need palliative care present chronic conditions , such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory illnesses, HIV, and diabetes.
Senator Miguel Mancera (PRD) said that it is intended to defend individual rights when there are lacerating illnesses with “terrible” pain, and clarified that it is not “ euthanasia ,” but a “ dignified death ,” since it is about avoiding the agony that harms the dignity of people.
“This is not euthanasia because it is not about ending life, but rather dignifying it; it is about changing the arrival to the terminal stage with dignity; it is a transcendental reform ,” said the past head of government of Mexico City.
The senator Patricia Mercado (MC) asserted that it is the people’s right , and no the State’s, as part of their autonomy , but that it is not enough that the Congress gives permission to the doctors; a dignified death must be achieved, as well as avoiding unnecessary pain .
“We must administer care that prevents suffering and not that extends life in a painful way, such as the use of marijuana. Dying is natural, but making someone suffer is inhumane ,” she added.
On the meanwhile, senator Noemí Reynoso (PAN) said that the right of every Mexican is to have a dignified life , and that is why National Action supports this bill that helps patients get the care that spares them pain and not an “attack against life” as euthanasia would be, since it is about improving the lives of patients and their families.
The bill reached 109 votes in favor and was referred to the House of Representatives for its analysis and approval.
