Valentina Maureira - The Chilean president has met with a 14-year-old girl who pleaded via YouTube for the government to allow doctors euthanize her because her struggle with cystic fibrosis - an incurable disease - has made her tired of living.
Valentina Maureira's video plea to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to allow her die on her terms went viral after it was posted on social media last week Thursday.
"I urgently request to speak to the president because I'm tired of living with this illness, " the teenager said in her video which appears to be shot from a hospital bed."I want her approval so I can get a shot that will make me sleep forever."
Cystic fibrosis is a degenerative disease that damages multiple organs, by causing recurrent infections that damages tissue. The lungs are especially affected.
Valentina expressed her frustration over the lack of medical options and how the illness has negatively affected the quality of her life. Her older brother died of the same disease at 6-years-old.
President Bachelet, who is also a pediatrician, visited Valentina and her father at the Catholic University Hospital in Santiago, Chile.
Although Bachelet met with the teenager for an hour, and even took selfies with her, the government has denied her request to be euthanized because it was unconstitutional.
Presidential spokesman Alvaro Elizalde released a statement expressing sympathy for Valentina's predicament, but added that Chilean law does not approve her request.
"It's impossible not to be overcome by emotion with the girl's request; it's impossible to grant her wish," Elizalde said.
Valentina's father, Fredy Maureira said although he "cried through the night" after learning of her wish to die. He supports her decision because she is the one experiencing the illness.
"This is so tough, but I have to respect her decision because she's the one who's suffering this illness," Maureira said during an AP interview last week."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."
Maureira also said that he is ready to support Valentina if she changes her mind and chooses to fight the disease which is affecting her liver, pancreas and lung.
"She's exhausted, we're all exhausted, but if she wants to keep fighting, I'll be by her side every second."
