Sick girl, 14, who begged to die changes her mind about euthanasia

SHE gained global attention when she used YouTube to ask for permission to end her life. Now 14-year-old Valentina Maureira says something has changed her mind.

In this Feb 28, 2015 photo released by Chile's Presidential Press Office, Valentina Maureira takes a photo of herself with President Michelle Bachelet, at the Catholic University hospital in Santiago, Chile. The ailing 14-year-old released a video last month in which she asked Bachelet to allow her to be euthanized. Bachelet visited the girl and her family but the government said it could not approve her request. Valentina's father said Sunday, March 22, that people who responded to her plea have led her to change her mind despite her suffering from cystic fibrosis. (AP Photo/Chile Presidential Press Office, Ximena Navarro)

AN ailing Chilean girl who made a public plea for permission to end her life has had a change of heart, according to her father.

Fredy Maureira told The Associated Press his 14-year-old, daughter, Valentina, has changed her mind after meeting people who responded to her plea to be euthanised in order to end her suffering from cystic fibrosis.

“Yes, she is thinking about it,” Maureira said.

The girl told the El Mercurio newspaper that “there are people who have led me to change my way of thinking.”

Personal plea to be left to "sleep forever" ... Cystic fibrosis sufferer Valentina Maureira. Picture: YouTube

A video in which Maureira asked Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to allow her to be euthanized gained global attention last month after it was posted on YouTube.

“I urgently request to speak to the president because I’m tired of living with this illness,” she said in the video last month.

“I want her approval so I can get a shot that will make me sleep forever.”

Bachelet, who is a trained pediatrician, visited the girl and her family but the government said it could not approve her request.

Fredy Maureira said his daughter especially was moved by a visit from an Argentine family whose children have been stricken by the incurable respiratory illness. He said she also was given hope by meeting a patient who has survived beyond age 20.

Valentina’s brother died of the illness when he was 6 years old.