Chilean girl appeals to president to be allowed to die
Chile's President Michelle Bachelet poses with Valentina Maureira after the girl appealed to her to authorize euthanasia.
A video posted online by a 14-year-old girl asking Chile's president to allow her to die has been viewed by thousands of people.
The girl, Valentina Maureira, suffers from cystic fibrosis, an incurable genetic disorder that attacks the lungs and other organs.
President Michele Bachelet responded by visiting Valentina in hospital.
Her spokesman said Valentina could not be granted her wish but the government would pay for psychiatric treatment.
Valentina's message has been viewed thousands of times on social networks, fuelling the debate in Chile over euthanasia, which is forbidden by law.
"I asked to speak urgently with the president, because I am tired of living with this disease." she said.
She also said she had an older brother who died of the same illness when he was six years old so she knew what would happen to her.
Cystic fibrosis attacks the lungs and makes it difficult to breath, among other symptoms.
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