Central and South America

Colombia’s Constitutional Court decriminalised assisted dying in 2022.

In 2022, Colombia’s Constitutional Court decriminalised medical assistance in dying for people with terminal illness, or severe and incurable disease. The Court has called on the Congress to regulate the practice through legislation.

Cuba’s parliament legislated in 2023 to allow people the right to a dignified death.

In 2023, Cuba’s parliament passed legislation which recognised the right of people to access a dignified death through the exercise of end-of-life decisions, including valid procedures that end life. People who are eligible include those with chronic degenerative and irreversible diseases, with intractable suffering, who are in agony or in a terminal phase of life. The Ministry of Public Health is drafting a specific law to regulate the procedure.

Ecuador’s Constitutional Court voted to allow doctors to help to end suffering of eligible patients.

In 2024, Ecuador’s Constitutional Court voted seven to two in favour of allowing a doctor to help a patient to die when they are experiencing intense suffering caused by a serious and irreversible bodily injury, or a serious and incurable illness. The ruling is enforceable while Congress draft and approve legislation.