On October 15, 2025, the Uruguayan Senate by a vote of 20 to 11 followed the earlier lead on August 23 by the lower House of 64-29 to legislate an Assisted Dying law. In doing so, Uruguay joins Colombia and Ecuador (and to a certain extent Cuba) as largekly Cartholic Latin American who have defied the Vatican to allow dying citizens a peaceful and compassionate end of life option.
The law allows euthanasia, performed by a healthcare professional, but does not permit self administration of a lethal dose of prescribed medicine, as is the case in each of the 11 US jurisdictions which have anacted MAID laws.
Also unlike the laws in the US, Australia and New Zealand, the laws does not impose a 6-months life expectancy or a pre-set waiting period. Rather it allows anyone subject to an incurable illness causing "unbearable suffering" to seek an assisted death, even if the illness is not terminal.
While the Catholic Church of Uruguay was a demonstrative opponent arguing that every person deserves to be cared for, accompanied and supported "until the end", Uruguay has become largely securalised and is recognised as one of Latin America's most progressive/liberal countries having pioneered same-sex marriage and abortion, as well as legalization of marijuana over a decade ago.
