Overview

• The upper chamber is considering a measure already approved by the Chamber of Deputies in August after a marathon session.
• The draft restricts access to competent adults with chronic, incurable or irreversible conditions causing unbearable suffering and outlines an eight-step, physician-led process with an independent second opinion and a recorded final will.
• Opposition benches are split, with senators Graciela Bianchi (Partido Nacional) and Andrés Ojeda (Partido Colorado) backing the bill, and Robert Silva requesting leave so substitute Ope Pasquet can vote in favor.
• Advocacy groups including Empatía Uruguay and Tenemos ELA support the proposal, Prudencia Uruguay opposes it, and ALS patient Beatriz Gelós attended the session saying the law would bring her “huge peace.”
• If approved, Uruguay would join a small group of countries that allow euthanasia, though it would not be the first in Latin America given Colombia’s prior decriminalization; a May Consultora Cifra poll found about 62% public support.