2 March 2007

MALAGA - Doctors at a hospital were preparing on Friday to turn of the life-support machine of a terminally woman who had asked to end her life.

Imaculada Echeverria, who has suffered from muscular distrophy for the past nine years, won the right to chose the date of her death after a ruling by the Andalusian Consultative Council and Ethics Committee.

The committee's report said: "We see no ethical reason to prevent professionals from carrying out the petition to terminate mechanical ventilation."

It found Echeverria request was a "rejection of treatment', a right recognised under Spanish law.

Based on this decision "any patient suffering from an irreversible and terminal disease may make the same decision".

But doctors at the hospital may refuse to turn off her life-support machine.

If this happens, other staff will have to do carry out Echeverria's wishes, authorities said.

Echeverria said: "This is one of the happiest days of my life."

Euthanasia is illegal in Spain, but refusing treatment is legal.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news