MONTEVIDEO – In a historic move, Uruguay’s senate has passed legislation that decriminalizes euthanasia, positioning the country among a select few worldwide where individuals suffering from severe illnesses can legally seek assistance to end their lives.

This development marks Uruguay as the first predominantly Catholic nation in Latin America to legislate the legalization of euthanasia. While Colombia and Ecuador have also legalized the practice, they did so through Supreme Court rulings rather than legislative measures.

Meanwhile, in Chile, President Gabriel Boric has recently reignited efforts to push forward a long-stalled euthanasia bill in the Senate, highlighting the ongoing and passionate regional debates on the topic.

The bill’s journey through Uruguay’s legislative process has been marked by stops and starts over the past five years, culminating in a decisive vote on Wednesday, where 20 of 31 senators endorsed the measure.

Earlier, the bill garnered significant support in Uruguay’s lower house, passing with a substantial majority in August.

Most opposition to euthanasia in Uruguay came from the Catholic Church. But secularization has eroded resistance to the practice in this country of 3.5 million people, which bans any mention of God in oaths of office and calls Christmas “Family Day.”

The law’s passage cements Uruguay’s reputation as among the most socially liberal in the region. The country was first in the world to legalize marijuana for recreational use and passed pioneering legislation allowing same-sex marriage and abortion over a decade ago.

The legislation permits euthanasia, performed by a healthcare professional, but not assisted suicide, which involves a patient self-administering a lethal dose of prescribed medication.

Unlike laws in U.S. states, Australia and New Zealand restricting euthanasia to those with a life expectancy of no more than six months or a year, Uruguay sets no time limits. It also allows anyone suffering from an incurable illness that causes “unbearable suffering” to seek assisted death, even if their diagnosis is not terminal.

Uruguay requires that those seeking euthanasia be mentally competent. Although the law does not outright ban euthanasia for those with mental conditions like depression, it requires that patients get two doctors to rule that they are psychologically fit enough to make the decision.