Press review of the Americas
In the News: Ecuador decriminalizes euthanasia
The Constitutional Court of Ecuador, in Quito, February 7, 2024. © Dolores Ochoa / AP
By: Marine de La Moissonnière Follow
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Many Ecuadorian newspapers publish the photo of a woman: Paola Roldán. It was she who obtained the decriminalization of euthanasia in her country this Thursday, February 7.
Upon learning that the Constitutional Court of Ecuador had ruled in her favor, by 7 votes in favor, out of a total of 9 judges, Paola Roldán felt
"very moved and relieved"
, reports the daily
El Universo
. The 42-year-old young woman suffers from Charcot's disease, an incurable neurodegenerative disease which makes her suffer terribly and leaves her confined to her bed, unable to move, on oxygen, dependent on someone 24 hours a day.
During a virtual press conference followed by
El Universo
, Paola Roldán explained that it would now take her and her family a few days to
“digest”
the news. Thus, explains the newspaper, her father, Francisco, is happy that his daughter has “
obtained a historic breakthrough which will be a legacy for Ecuadorian society”
. But he is also “
half heartbroken
” because this decision by the Constitutional Court means that his daughter can now die.
When will Paola Roldán die?
It's not very clear at the moment. According to Farith Simon, lawyer for Paola Roldán, cited by
La Hora
, this decision has immediate effect. Any person who suffers intensely due to a serious and irreversible injury, or a serious and incurable illness, and who requests it in a clear, free and informed manner, can benefit from an active euthanasia procedure. Doctors, for their part, have the right to use their conscience clause.
But according to
El Telegrafo
, the Constitutional Court gave two months to the Ministry of Health to draft the texts concretely governing euthanasia, and one year to Parliament to pass a law. We therefore do not yet know when Paola Roldán will be able to die in peace, with dignity, as she has been asking for months.
She's ready, as La Hora
explains
. She thus prepared a “
time capsule
” for her 4-year-old son. Inside: all the birthday presents she won't attend; memories and advice for all the important stages of his life: his first love, his first breakup, his first steps at university... No question, with this capsule, of imposing on him who she would have wanted him to become, specifies Paola Roldán. On the contrary, she leaves him something to encourage him to be free.
The culmination of a “
titanic work
”
This legal decision is the result of the fierce fight led by Paola Roldán. “
The fight for human rights is never a paved road
,” recognizes the young woman, reports
El Telegrafo
. Diagnosed in 2020, Paola Roldán submitted her request to the Constitutional Court last August.
According to her, specifies
El Universo
, the judges made the choice of “
solidarity, autonomy, freedom and dignity
”. It was she – and nothing but her – who pushed them to this vote, estimates the newspaper
La Hora
. “
Yes, with her struggle, Paola Roldan [...] offered her heart to Ecuador, transforming it into a slightly fairer country where those who suffer from a degenerative or chronic illness, like her, can finally access to euthanasia
,” writes the daily. It's an end to clandestinity for doctors and patients like her "
who deserve to be able to choose a dignified death
", rejoices the newspaper which insists. Paola Roldán “
changed the history of Ecuador
” which thus became the ninth country in the world and the second in Latin America, after Colombia, to authorize euthanasia.
Respite on the fire front in Chile
According to firefighters, the fires that ravaged the tourist region of Valparaiso have been extinguished. For the moment, according to the count established by the Chilean newspaper
La Tercera
, the toll shows 131 dead, 40 people who could be identified, 6,000 homes destroyed, more than 1,900 firefighters who fought for more than 5 days . However, Chile is not completely done with fires since outbreaks remain active in certain regions of the country.
How can we ensure that such fires do not happen again?
“
Forest fires are not inevitable
,” headlines
El Mostrador
. It’s even “
quite the opposite
”, insists Jorge Morales Gamboni, member of the Observatory of Public and Territorial Policies of the University of Santiago, to whom the newspaper opened its columns. In a long article, the professor reminds us that we must take care of the forests in winter.
This avoids spending the summer “
putting out fires and feeling sorry for their catastrophic consequences
,” he writes, asking the State to intervene, particularly so that the urban-rural interface zones are clean. We must not find “
trash cans, dangerous waste like tires, or simply weeds
” there
.
Firewalls and flame suppression systems
The State must take action, insists the academic who is calling for a change of strategy within CONAF, the public body which manages the country's forests. Its fire prevention department must step up and be more active in winter. In particular, he must install firewalls, including in private homes, and ensure their maintenance.
Another recommendation from Jorge Morales Gamboni: that every house, business, garage, shed, etc. have a fire-fighting system (a water point, pipes, flame-retardant chemicals, etc.).
Finally, last point of this roadmap: the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict where fires will break out. This would make it possible to send police officers to conduct dissuasive rounds, believes the academic.
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