In February, Peruvian Maria Teresa Benito Orihuela, 66, obtained a court sentence to have a “dignified death” due to her advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and dependence on an external respirator. However, 12 doctors at the Edgardo Rebagliati Hospital where she is being treated refused to turn off the devices, citing the Religious Freedom Law and conscientious objection.
In response to this, Orihuela’s lawyers sued the Peruvian court again in an attempt 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 7th to present a doctor who agrees to turn off the devices.
Orihuela’s case follows the same pattern as that of Ana Estrada, who died on April 21st after also suffering from a degenerative disease and fighting for legal euthanasia in Peru. 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 attacks on the inalienable right to life. Other Latin American countries have also made advancements in legalizing euthanasia including Ecuador legalizing it in February and Cuba approving it as part of their new public health law in December. Colombia has allowed it since 1997 but regulated it only recently in 2015 and now hospitals perform assisted suicide on terminally ill patients.