Uruguay bishops seek legislation in light of dignity

Vatican News

“Our society needs to support the laws that prevent any kind of compassionate murder.” This is the strong proposal for the Uruguayan Episcopal Conference in its document “You find with love the end of life”The public was announced after the General Assembly of the Bishops from March 31 to April 4, 2025. However, they consider that it is necessary to develop proposals that facilitate compliance and the real access to the entire population.

The project obtained half a penalty in the House of Representatives during the previous legislative body (in 2022), but it was not approved in the Senate. It should be noted that on February 15, the new legislative period was opened, before the start of the new management of FRENTE Amplio on March 1.

The statement argues that “therapeutic stubbornness that consists of the creation of treatment measures is not referred to, unlimited, or unusual or unusual in order to want to prolong the patient’s life at any cost, knowing that there is no real” unacceptable interest in moral terms. In turn, they assume that it is morally unacceptable to “cause the patient’s death.” They even mention that “the doctor should not be involved in the behavior that actively causes death to another person.”

In the end, they judge that “this procedure constitutes a murder carried out in the clinical context.”

Human dignity

The document emphasizes the principle of human dignity, which is understood to be absolute and inaccurate value. This dignity does not depend on the conditions or condition in which the person is, but it depends on a simple fact of belonging to the human species. Believers understand, in particular, that every human being loved by God, who gives him a dignity that is underestimating or wasted under any circumstances.

From a philosophical and moral perspective, this principle highlights that human life is not only a biological process, but a gift that goes beyond mere physical existence. Life, by nature, is full of beauty, but also restrictions and suffering, and ultimately from death. It is necessary, then, that society strengthen a collective conscience that hosts, protects and accompanies people, especially in the last stage of their lives, and enhances family assistance, tilted medicine and a strong spiritual experience.

Pastish medicine role

Uruguay’s bishops express their strong support for tilted medicine, and highlights it as one of the best ways to accompany patients in the generous death process. Medicine is characterized by its human approach, and seeks to reduce suffering and provide comfort for both the patient and their relatives, without trying to prolong life unnecessarily at the expense of the quality of that.

In this sense, tilted anesthesia is presented as an ethical and scientific alternative in situations where the patient’s symptoms are resistant to treatment and cause severe suffering. This practice allows to reduce the patient’s awareness level in a control and ethical manner, with the necessary approval for him or his family. Unlike compassionate murder, tasting anesthesia aims to cause death, but rather reduce suffering without endangering life.

Legal and social effects

As for the legal effects of legitimacy on compassion, the bishops warn that it represents a major change in the value that society provides to human life. As he put it, the draft law that promotes compassionate murder would change the concept of human life as an essential, unavoidable and unavailable right. Such an approach contradicts the constitutional principles and international human rights.

Over the course of history, the experience of other countries that have erected the merciful murder showed that, in addition to the risk of pressure on weak patients, there is a tendency to reduce the value of the life of those who, for various reasons, do not meet the standards of quality of life. This approach, according to Sepherds, opens the door to a dangerous slippery slope, as more and more lives are “garbage”, and therefore, it is likely to be eliminated.

An invitation to think

In the last part of the text, the need for an integrated accompaniment is highlighted in the final stages of life. Humans, especially in moments of suffering, not only require medical attention, but also spiritual. On its mission to serve humanity, the Church seeks to provide comfort and hope, and remember the importance of faith and hope in eternal life. In times of severe pain, the words of Jesus Christ in his suffering, “Father, in your hands, pledge in a spirit”, they present themselves as a model of confidence and surrender to death.

The bishops of Uruguay calls on legislators and entire society to think about the dignity of human life, so that general laws and policies respect this basic value. In a context, medical progress and social pressure can endanger the safety of man, it is necessary to enhance the care and respect approach that allows all citizens to live and die in dignity.

In a previous document For this issue and published in 2022, the bishops expressed their denial of the draft law and pain to pain, but not to put an end to the patient’s life. ”

In addition, they argued that “the degree of development of a country is measured above all by treating its most vulnerable organs. It would be very sad that instead of providing relief, assistance and escort, the Uruguay community provides as a solution to pain, to abandon, weak, death, and death.” “This is not the way to make” the happiest is the most privileged. “