69-year-old woman with advanced metastases signed consent and received procedure in Montevideo
A 69-year-old woman with terminal pancreatic cancer was the first person to receive legal euthanasia in Uruguay in a procedure carried out on Friday (May 22, 2026) at the Police Hospital, in Montevideo. She had advanced lung, kidney and liver metastases.
The patient had been hospitalized for 10 days in the same hospital, where she had received palliative care since the diagnosis of the disease. The procedure was carried out 2 days after signing a consent document, on Wednesday (May 20, 2026).
The euthanasia regulation came into force in the country on April 21, 2026. Law 20,431 determines that the procedure can be requested as long as the patient has an incurable, irreversible disease in the terminal phase or is experiencing intense suffering with serious deterioration in quality of life. Here is the full translated version of the legislation (– 103 kB).
“Every person of legal age, mentally capable […] You have the right to euthanasia, at your request and through the procedure established in this law, so that your death occurs painlessly, peacefully and respectfully of your dignity.”states the text.
Uruguay became the first country in Latin America to regulate euthanasia through legislation approved in Parliament. Colombia and Ecuador already allowed it through decisions of their constitutional courts.
