Country becomes the 1st in South America to allow the procedure by decision of the Legislature
The Uruguayan Senate approved on Wednesday (October 15, 2025) the Dignified Death Law, which regulates the practice of euthanasia for adults with incurable diseases and intolerable suffering. With 20 votes in favor among 31 senators, the country became the first in Latin America to legalize the procedure.
The already by the Chamber of Representatives on August 13, with 64 votes in favor among 99 deputies. In the Senate, it received support from the left-wing Frente Amplio coalition and part of the center and right benches. The remainder voted against.
What the law determines:
- who can ask – people of legal age, with mental capacity, who are in the terminal phase of an incurable and irreversible disease, or live with incurable health conditions that cause progressive and intolerable suffering, with serious deterioration in the quality of life;
- 1st evaluation – the request must be formalized in writing to a first doctor, who must evaluate the conditions, also inform about palliative care and verify that the will is free, serious and firm — maximum period of 3 days for this initial analysis;
- 2nd evaluation – then, a second doctor will be needed to evaluate in person within a period of up to 5 days. If there is disagreement between doctors, the case is submitted to a medical board, with another period of up to 5 days for a final decision. If the 2nd doctor agrees, or the board validates, the procedure continues;
- if the person changes their mind – you can revoke the request at any time and doctors have the right to exercise conscientious objection.
Uruguayan authorities classified the approval as a historic milestone. The Secretary of the Presidency, Alejandro Sánchez, said that the country “returns to be a pioneer in the rights agenda”. Politicians against the proposal criticized the lack of guarantees for vulnerable people and demanded expanded access to palliative care.
With the sanction of the law, Uruguay will be the first country in the region to have euthanasia legalized through Congress. Cases such as those in Colombia and Ecuador were authorized by court decisions, but without legislative regulation.
In Brazil, they are considered crimes.
President Yamandú Orsi is expected to promulgate the rule in the coming days and establish the necessary regulations for its application.
The issue gained strength in 2019 with the mobilization of Fernando Sureda, a former sports director with a degenerative disease, who defended the right to die with dignity.
Uruguay is one of the pioneering countries in South America in initiatives such as legalization of same-sex marriage, decriminalization and use of .
