Desafíos contemporáneos en la regulación de la eutanasia y su implementación en el sistema jurídico ecuatoriano.

Abstract

The implementation of euthanasia in the Ecuadorian legal and medical system faces great challenges in the contemporary context. Paola Roldán, a woman who suffered from a generative disease (ALS) asked the Constitutional Court of Ecuador to legalize euthanasia to have access to it since she was living her life from a bed without being able to move. The Constitutional Court of Ecuador, in a historical debate, legalized euthanasia on February 7, 2024, in response to Roldán’s claim. However, Roldán died of natural causes of her disease without being able to access euthanasia. Euthanasia, defined as the act of ending the life of a human being suffering from a terminal and incurable disease to alleviate their suffering, raises complex ethical, legal, and moral questions. One of the main challenges lies in reconciling individual rights of self-determination and dignity with those cultural, religious, and ethical values rooted in the Ecuadorian society. Furthermore, after its approval, the implementation of euthanasia in the Ecuadorian health system implies logistical and training challenges for health professionals, as well as the need to establish clear protocols to guarantee safety and respect for the rights of patients.