Euthanasia in Chile: Teen Suffering From Cystic Fibrosis Asks President to Allow her to Die, Request Will Not Be Granted [Watch]
A Chilean teen is using social media to ask Chile's President to allow her to die, the BBC reports.
Thousands of people have viewed the video posted by Valentina Maureira asking Chilean President Michele Bachelet to allow her to die. Maureira suffers from the genetic disorder cystic fibrosis.
Responding to her request, Bachelet visited Valentina in the hospital. She spent more than an hour with Valentina and even took a "selfie" photo with the teen.
Valentina wants an injection that will "allow her to go to sleep forever."
Bachelet's spokesman, Alvaro Elizalde, said Maureira's wish to be allowed to die will not be granted, but the government would pay for her psychiatric treatment.
"It's impossible not to be overcome by emotion with the girl's request; it's impossible to grant her wish," Elizalde said.
Cystic fibrosis is an incurable disorder that attacks the lungs and other organs. Maureira's older brother died of the same illness when he was 6. Maureira argued that she knows this will happen to her too.
Maureira's message to Bachelet was simple: "I asked to speak urgently with the president, because I am tired of living with this disease," she said.
Euthanasia is forbidden by law in Chile.
Mauriera's parents support Valentina's demand to the President. Her father Fredy Maureira admitted to "crying through the night" when he heard that Valentina wanted to die.
"This is so tough, but I have to respect her decision because she's the one who's suffering this illness," AP quoted her father as saying.
Elizalde said that the health ministry was in contact with Maureira's family and will be providing her with psychological assistance and medical care.
Valentina's father said that his daughter will keep trying to speak with the President so she can tell her "life story" to her, the Daily Mail reports. Bachelet is also a pediatrician.
"I already lost a 6-year-old son because I didn't have enough money and organs. Now my daughter just wants to die in a dignified way," her father said.
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