Argentine court gives patient right to ‘die with dignity’

A majority vote of three out of four members at the court said “members respect the person’s will, therefore they suspend measures which have been artificially prolonging his life for 20 years.’’A report by the court noted that as a result of the vote, it upheld the decision made by the Court of Justice in […]

A majority vote of three out of four members at the court said “members respect the person’s will, therefore they suspend measures which have been artificially prolonging his life for 20 years.’’
A report by the court noted that as a result of the vote, it upheld the decision made by the Court of Justice in the central province of Neuquen to allow 50-year-old Marcelo Diez to die with dignity.
It said Diez had been in vegetative state since 1994 after a motorcycle accident.
It added that the ruling stemmed from a 2012 law that allows people to state in advance what they want to happen to them if they become incapacitated or terminally ill.
“But because Diez had no written record of what he wants, the court let his siblings speak and decide for him.
“Studies have confirmed the irreversible and incurable nature of Diez’s condition.’’
However, some people have been against letting the man die as they felt it was morally wrong.
Meanwhile, a Facebook page entitled “Don’t kill Marcelo Diez” had been created for peoples’ responses and views. (NAN).