Villa diagnosed her in 2019 with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS, an incurable disease that deteriorates the quality of life and can cause death by suffocation.
“It is a disease that has no solution, no cure, that leads to deterioration and patients die in unhuman conditions because they end up asphyxiated with their own saliva and with atrophied muscles,” he said.
The specialist, who treated Martha since 2010 for another pathology, assured that he exhausted all the resources to cope with the disease and highlighted Martha’s positive attitude, although not all the alternatives might ensure a result.
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“I myself applied the stem cells trying to exhaust every last resort. It was explained to her that it did not have a well-defined scientific basis. However, she accepted. She always had a very positive attitude towards life,” he explained.
Villa, declared for RCN Radio that he remembers Martha as an intelligent woman, who was aware of the consequences of the disease and was clear regarding the concept of a dignified life.
In the same way, the lawyers who represented her in the legal battle she fought to access euthanasia without being a terminal patient, announced that she died under her idea of autonomy, dignity and above all grateful.
“She left grateful to all the people who accompanied and supported her, who prayed for her and had words of love and empathy during these difficult months,” said the DescLab group of lawyers, through a statement.
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