COLOMBIA

On June 10, the Seventh Committee of the Colombian Senate approved, in its first debate, the ‘Jerónimo Law’, which benefits Colombians suffering from different types of cancer. The initiative establishes a regulatory framework that will regulate activities related to the procurement, donation and transplantation of stem cells. It will now go to the second debate in the Senate plenary. In addition, the Ministry of Health opened for comments the draft resolution on the establishment of the process of receiving the request for euthanasia. Comments should be sent until June 25 to the mail [email protected].

The Jerónimo Law seeks to improve the survival rates of cancer patients, primarily for children fighting this disease. In this sense, the bill proposes the creation of the National Public Registry of Stem Cell Donors so that patients diagnosed with different types of cancer can access a National Organ Donation Network, and thus quickly identify compatibility between donors and guarantee timely treatment.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Health opened for comments and observations the draft resolution that establishes the processes and steps applicable in the reception and follow-up of requests for the exercise of the right to die with dignity through euthanasia. It also determines that the entities and persons involved in the flow of patient information will be responsible for compliance with the corresponding data protection regime.