By Alejandro Prieto
Montevideo, Aug 29 (EFE).- For Beatriz Gelós, a 71-year-old former teacher living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the fight to legalize euthanasia in Uruguay is about giving herself and others the choice “to continue the ordeal or not” when the time comes.
Gelós, who was diagnosed nearly two decades ago, has seen her physical independence steadily erode.
Once a Spanish-language teacher, wife, and mother of two, she now lives in a nursing home and depends on caregivers for nearly all daily tasks.
“I knew something serious was coming. I didn’t know about this disease, damn it,” she told EFE in an interview. “Everything is a struggle. Now I can barely eat by myself. My hands shake, and food falls to the floor. Even scratching myself is impossible.”
Push for a dignified death law
In 2022, Gelós wrote a public letter demanding a clear and well-drafted euthanasia law, expressing the pain of no longer being able to hold her grandchildren to sleep.
Her testimony, along with that of other patients, has become central to Uruguay’s ongoing parliamentary debate on the so-called “dignified death” bill.
During a recent vote in the lower house, her name was cited alongside those of Fernando Sureda, Pablo Salgueiro, and Pablo Cánepa, patients who requested euthanasia but died before the bill advanced.
“I liked it when Deputy Luis Gallo quoted my words, ‘life would be more dignified if I could scratch myself,’ with indignation. I wanted to be there, watching from the gallery,” she recalled.
Although her family does not support her push for euthanasia, Gelós insists it is not just about her. “I fight for me, but for many more who are desperate,” she said.
She believes the Senate will approve the legislation, which would place Uruguay among Latin American countries advancing euthanasia rights.
Colombia already allows it, while courts in Peru and Ecuador have recognized individual cases. “It would be wonderful if Uruguay could serve as an example, even if we’re not the first,” she added.
Daily pain and resilience
ALS has left Gelós with constant pain in her shoulders, hips, knees, and feet.
She struggles to sleep and must be repositioned twice a night. Despite this, she finds comfort in her inner life and in memories of her childhood with her five siblings.
“When we moved to Carrasco Norte, our house was half-finished. After dinner, we would turn off the lamp and go out to the sidewalk to sing together. I try to think of that,” she said.
Though she admits she may sound “arrogant,” Gelós says she does not fear death.
“Everything that lives dies. Death is part of life. I don’t believe there’s anything after,” she explained.
Holding on to life
While she advocates for the right to choose euthanasia, Gelós emphasized that she is not ready yet.
“For now, I am not willing. I also want to resolve some family matters,” she said, adding that she worries about her husband, who suffers from serious heart problems.
In the meantime, she keeps finding reasons to live: attending an online writing workshop, painstakingly typing on her computer, buying small gifts for her grandchildren, and going for walks with a caregiver.
“I have life. Life has this force that lifts you up. One day you’re down, the next you grab onto something and move forward, up to a point,” she reflected. EFE
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