Desperate because of illness, this man chooses to die through euthanasia

Victor Escobar, 60, became the first person in Colombia with a non-terminal illness to die by euthanasia last Friday. Although the disease can be cured, the method he chose was legal.

"Patients like me, whose disease is not terminal but degenerative, have won this battle .

A battle that opened doors for other patients who came after me and wanted a dignified death," Escobar said in a video message sent to the media by his lawyer, Luis Giraldo.

Escobar has end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to Escobar's lawyer, Giraldo, his illness has greatly reduced his quality of life as well as a number of other conditions.

The euthanasia procedure was performed at a clinic in Cali, the capital of the province of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. "I didn't say goodbye, just see you later," said Escobar.

Escobar has been fighting for two years fighting for the implementation of euthanasia. But he faced opposition from doctors, clinics and courts. The Constitutional Court last year recognized the procedure should only be carried out for people who are seriously ill.

The second Colombian person to be euthanized, Martha Sepulveda also underwent lethal injection in the city of Medellin at midday Saturday. This was disclosed DescLAB - who supported his case in a statement. Sepulveda, had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in 2018. He was supposed to be euthanized on October 10 last year, but the procedure was stopped.

Colombia allows euthanasia for those stricken with deadly and incurable diseases. Escobar was the first case to be allowed for a patient with a curable disease.

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