Cuba on Friday became only the second country in the entire Latin American and Caribbean region to legalize euthanasia, after Colombia.

The decision was made… subtly: There was no special coverage by the state media, practically no public debate took place.

The parliament of the country under communist government included a relevant measure in the provisions of the law to update the legal framework of the system of public and free health for all.

“People’s right to a dignified death is recognized in end-of-life decisions that may include limiting curative treatment, continuing or palliative care, or life-ending procedures,” according to the text.

Euthanasia and medically assisted suicide, which meet the absolute opposition of most religions, provoke intense reactions at the international level. In general, these practices are legal in very few countries. In fact, in some it is even equated with murder.

The Roman Catholic Church of Cuba has not commented on this decision so far.

Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Canada, Australia, Spain, Germany, New Zealand and some US states also allow euthanasia.

In some of these countries, medically assisted suicide is also allowed, in cases where patients are suffering greatly, even if they do not have a terminal illness.

In favor of the doctors and nurses of Cuba

At the island’s Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, the most important cancer center in Cuba, Dr. Alberto Roque, with a master’s degree in bioethics, praised the parliament’s decision, pointing out that it creates the “legal framework for euthanasia in all its forms”, including “active euthanasia, or assisted suicide”.

Dr. Roque, however, expects this to change when the rules are finalized.

Outside the oncology institute, 47-year-old nurse Swaima Lopes, who suffers from cancer, said that she would be in favor of euthanasia if there was no chance of restoring health, in her case and that of other patients.

Of course, “families want their loved ones to stay alive as long as possible, until the last moment, but one has to take into account how much they are suffering,” Ms. Lopez explained.

“If we can have a dignified death” when we “reach the moment when nothing more can be done” then “let me die in peace,” he added.