Active Euthanasia Bill as an Exceptional Mean for Terminally Ill Patients in Bolivia

Abstract

Euthanasia is applied in various countries in the world on demand or desire of terminally ill patients, as long as it is approved as law, considering these as a right to die with dignity. In the case of Bolivia, it is not approved in its legislation, because of this practice would constitute a crime. The analysis of the Bolivian national legislation through the State Constitution determines "life" as one of the fundamental rights; and euthanasia is against the law. Thus requiring a necessary reform of the Constitution and other laws to allow the application of active euthanasia in terminally ill patients, reflecting ita preliminary draft bill of active euthanasia, which has ali the requirements and necessary formalities necessary for a proper application in terminal illness, avoiding  unnecessary suffering. The main objectives of the research focus to propose and justify active euthanasia law as an exceptional measure for the terminally ill, with no possibility of recovery, in order to end incurable serious illness or injury accelerating imminent death in hospice.