Chilean ill girl changes her mind about euthanasia

Valentina Maureira, the 14-year-old Chilean girl with a respiratory illness who made a public plea for permission for euthanasia, has recently changed her mind, local media reported on Sunday.

Freddy Maureira, father of Valentina, said her daughter changed her mind after speaking with people who responded to her plea for permission to end her life.

Valentina was moved after hearing several stories of children affected by the same disease, said the father.

"There are people who have led me to change my way of thinking," the girl, who suffers cystic fibrosis, told the El Mercurio newspaper.

Weeks ago, Valentina posted a video on internet asking Chile's President Michelle Bachelet to allow her "sleep forever".

The video gained world-wide attention and Bachelet, who used to work as a pediatrician, visited the girl and her family.

The Chilean government said it could not approve Valentina's request. Endi