Woman who was deformed in acid attack by her husband pleads to be euthanised years after the Pope talked her out of ending her own life but the help she hoped for never came
Maria Consuelo Cordoba, a 58-year-old woman from Bogota, Colombia, is seeking euthanasia nearly a decade after Pope Francis reportedly persuaded her not to end her life during his 2017 visit to the country. Cordoba was disfigured in 2000 when her then-husband threw acid in her face during an argument, leaving her with life-changing injuries that have required more than 80 surgeries over 26 years. Her case has drawn public attention after she said the medical support she was promised never materialised, leaving her physically and financially exhausted.
Cordoba, who is unable to work and begs for money to pay for her rented room, says she is still awaiting facial reconstructive surgery and relies on breathing tubes due to her injuries. Colombia's health authority, Capital Salud, has confirmed she has been approved for euthanasia while pledging to continue providing her medical care. Colombia was the first Latin American nation to decriminalise euthanasia, and Cordoba's case follows a similar recent request by Spanish chef Ainhoa Caballero Medina, who was left with life-changing injuries after an attack by her ex-boyfriend.
In short
- Acid attack survivor Maria Cordoba seeks euthanasia after 26 years of suffering
- Pope Francis had persuaded her not to end her life in 2017
- Colombian health authority approves euthanasia while offering ongoing medical care
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Cordoba’s request can be understood as an exercise of personal autonomy after decades of severe injury, repeated surgery and financial hardship. If her suffering is enduring and she freely chooses euthanasia, respecting that choice may be seen as a compassionate way to relieve suffering and preserve her dignity.
The case against
A request made amid poverty, unmet promises of care and dependence on others may raise questions about whether Cordoba has had a fair chance to choose life with adequate support. Those who oppose granting euthanasia in such circumstances may argue that authorities should first ensure access to the treatment, housing and assistance she was promised, so hardship does not narrow her options.
Explained simply
In Colombia, acid attacks have left some survivors with severe, lasting injuries and a need for repeated medical treatment. Maria Consuelo Cordoba was attacked by her then-husband in 2000 and has undergone more than 80 operations.
Colombia was the first country in Latin America to decriminalise euthanasia, a medically assisted end to life, under rules set by its courts and health system. Pope Francis met Cordoba during a 2017 visit to Colombia, when he reportedly urged her not to take her own life.
Cordoba says promised medical help did not arrive and that her injuries have left her unable to work. Her request for euthanasia has brought attention to the care available to survivors and to how Colombia’s health system handles such requests.
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