Girl Creates Viral YouTube Video Pleading with President to Let Her Die
In a stunning, yet moving YouTube Video, 14 year old Valentina Maureira of Chile, who is suffering from Cystic Fibrosis, made a plea to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet asking the President to help end her life. “I am tired of living with this sickness“, Valentina is quoted as saying. “Please authorize an injection so I can sleep forever“.
Valentina is currently suffering constant vomiting and headaches. The disease has also affected her liver, pancreas and lungs.
According to CNN, President Bachelet, who is a pediatrician, met with Valentina on Saturday but ruled out granting the girl’s request as Chilean law does not allow for euthanasia. Valentina’s brother died of the disease at age 6; the same age Valentina was when she was diagnosed. According to doctors, her prognosis is terminal and she is only expected to live to the age of 17.
Her YouTube plea has now gone viral and has garnered over 900,000 views in less than a week. News of her plight has spread around the world with media stories appearing in the U.S., Britain, Russia, China, and Australia.
On Thursday, Presidential spokesman Alvaro Elizalde said that although “it’s impossible not to be overcome by emotion with the girl’s request, it’s impossible to grant her wish“. Elizalde said the Chilean health ministry was in contact with Maureira’s family and was providing her psychological assistance as well as medical treatment.
