Overview
- The Senate approved the Muerte Digna law 20–11 after an extended debate, following lower-house passage in August.
- The Executive must issue regulations within 180 days of promulgation and then seat a review commission within 90 days to audit cases annually.
- Eligibility is limited to adults who are mentally competent and have terminal or incurable, irreversible conditions or unbearable suffering, and requests can be revoked at any time.
- The process requires a primary physician evaluation, a second medical opinion, possible referral to a medical board, and a written confirmation before witnesses, with deaths recorded as natural and reported to the Health Ministry.
- Services will be offered by ASSE, nonprofit mutualistas, private insurers, the Hospital de Clínicas, and military and police health systems, with private clinics excluded; institutions and clinicians may invoke conscientious objection.