18 October 2006

MADRID — A woman who is suffering from muscular dystrophy has asked been granted legal aid in her fight to end her life.

Inmaculada Echevarría, 51, has asked for a fatal injection or for her ventilator to be turned off.

Her case is supported by the pro-euthanasia group the Association for the Right to Die (DMD). 

Echevarria has progressive muscular dystrophy and has been on a ventilator for the past nine years.

Since the age of 30 she has had serious mobility problems. 

A spokesman for DMD said Echevarria had asked in a letter for a fatal injection to stop her heart or for her ventilator to be switched off.

If she is granted either wish, it will set a precedent in Spain, where euthanasia is illegal.

A film Mar Adentro (The Sea Within), about the life and death of quadriplegic Ramon Sampedro, reignited the debate about the issue two years ago.

Sampedro took his life after years of campaigning for the right to do so.

The government has said it does not intend to change the law.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news