Uruguay legalizes euthanasia: between compassion, doubt and state responsibility

From Montevideo

The first Latin American country to legalize assisted dying now faces the challenge of balancing individual freedom and public ethics.

A law that opens more questions than it closes

In October 2025, Uruguay passed a law legalizing euthanasia and medically assisted dying, becoming the first country in Latin America to do so through parliamentary approval. The measure has placed Uruguay at the center of an ethical and political crossroads — between compassion and caution, autonomy and state duty.

The law, promoted by members of the Broad Front coalition, allows adults with incurable diseases or “unbearable suffering” to request medical assistance to end their lives. Yet many medical associations, legal experts and opposition politicians warn that the regulation lacks clarity, especially regarding the definition of intolerable suffering and the safeguards for healthcare professionals.

Ethical and practical concerns

Unlike some European frameworks, Uruguay’s law does not strictly require a terminal diagnosis. This broader interpretation has generated concern among doctors who fear being caught between empathy and professional duty.

The Uruguayan Medical Association noted that “legislating euthanasia without first strengthening palliative care leaves an ethical gap.” Critics argue that the law may normalize death as a medical solution to pain, rather than improving access to end-of-life care.

A reformist country facing institutional limits

Uruguay has long been seen as a laboratory of progressive reforms — from same-sex marriage to cannabis regulation. But experts warn that the country’s healthcare infrastructure might not be ready for a law that requires such precision and ethical supervision.

Some observers question the timing: while health resources remain uneven and palliative care underdeveloped, lawmakers prioritized a symbolic reform over structural investment.

Political implications

Although presented as a humanitarian measure, the law carried political undertones. Critics accuse the Broad Front of using the issue to reaffirm its ideological identity. Even within the coalition, votes were divided and public debate intense.

Conservative leaders, meanwhile, cautioned that “the State cannot delegate the value of life to individual will,” arguing that the law blurs the moral boundary between compassion and elimination of suffering.

Global reactions

The international press widely covered the news. Outlets like Reuters, BBC and France24 highlighted Uruguay’s pioneering step, while Latin American editorials questioned whether the country’s model can be replicated without stronger institutional safeguards.

In Colombia, where euthanasia was legalized through court rulings, analysts noted that Uruguay’s legislative route may provide stability — but also exposes the political risks of moral lawmaking.

A sober reflection

Uruguay’s decision invites a deeper reflection beyond borders: how far should personal autonomy go, and what happens when the State authorizes the act of ending a life?

The law’s defenders see an act of mercy; its detractors, a dangerous precedent. In between lies a question that will not fade soon: how to defend dignity — without crossing the line of duty to protect life itself.