Woman, 51, Dies By Euthanasia In Colombia After Hard Fought Legal Battle

A 51-year-old woman has died by euthanasia after a legal battle to exercise the right to die in Catholic-majority Colombia.

Martha Sepulveda died on 8th January by euthanasia after suffering with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the Instituto Colombiano del Dolor (Incodol) in the Colombian city of Medellin.

Her death was announced in a statement by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which works on human rights causes.

Martha Sepulveda, a 51-year-old woman, who has suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for almost three years will be the first patient with a non-terminal illness to undergo euthanasia in Colombia, on 10th October. (Newsflash)

The organisation said: “Martha Sepulveda agreed to euthanasia and died in accordance with her idea of autonomy and dignity.

“Martha left with gratitude to all the people who accompanied and supported her, who prayed for her and exchanged words of love and empathy during these difficult months.”

In Colombia, euthanasia was decriminalised in 1997, but the right to die only became law in 2015.

Martha Sepulveda, a 51-year-old woman, who has suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for almost three years will be the first patient with a non-terminal illness to undergo euthanasia in Colombia, on 10th October. (Newsflash)

In July 2021, the country’s Constitutional Court extended the right to a dignified death for those who suffer from “intense physical or mental suffering” due to an incurable injury or illness.

The case of Martha Sepulveda became the first in which euthanasia was authorised in a patient without a terminal illness.

She was supposed to be euthanised on 10th October, 2021, however, Incodol, the private clinic that treated her, announced the suspension of the procedure 36 hours earlier.

Martha Sepulveda, a 51-year-old woman, who has suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for almost three years will be the first patient with a non-terminal illness to undergo euthanasia in Colombia, on 10th October. (Newsflash)

The Interdisciplinary Scientific Commission for the Right to Die with Dignity “unanimously decided to cancel the procedure” after determining that “the criteria of terminal illness was not fulfilled as considered by the first commission”.

The court revoked the suspension of the procedure at the end of October and instructed Incodol to comply “with what was established” in a ruling on 6th August after an expert panel determined that the patient met “the requirements to exercise her right to die with dignity through euthanasia”.

The court said Incodol violated the woman’s “fundamental right to die with dignity” and set a new date for euthanasia.

Martha Sepulveda, pictured with her son Federico, the 51-year-old woman, who has suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for almost three years will be the first patient with a non-terminal illness to undergo euthanasia in Colombia, on 10th October. (Newsflash)

The case sparked huge debate in the country about the right to opt for assisted death.

In a September interview with Caracol TV, Sepulveda said: “On the spiritual plane, I’m totally calm… I’ll be a coward, but I don’t want to suffer anymore, I’m tired. I’m fighting to rest”.

She also said: “I’m Catholic and I consider myself a believer. But God doesn’t want to see me suffer.

Martha Sepulveda, pictured with her unidentified man and her son Federico, helping her walk do to her condition, the 51-year-old woman, who has suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for almost three years will be the first patient with a non-terminal illness to undergo euthanasia in Colombia, on 10th October. (Newsflash)

“With my ALS in its current state, the best thing that can happen to me is for me to rest.”

Since being diagnosed with ALS, Sepulveda’s son Federico said her life became unbearable and the news that she could end it was a relief to her.

On 7th January, the day before Sepulveda passed away, Victor Escobar, 60, became the first patient to undergo the procedure without having a terminal illness in Latin America, benefiting from the path created by Sepulveda.

Martha Sepulveda, pictured when she was younger, the 51-year-old woman, who has suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for almost three years will be the first patient with a non-terminal illness to undergo euthanasia in Colombia, on 10th October. (Newsflash)

Escobar suffered from several incurable degenerative diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypertension, in addition to suffering two strokes in 2007 and 2008.

As a young man, he had been in a car accident that caused him to undergo three spinal surgeries. In the last years of his life, he had crippling mobility problems and needed oxygen every day.

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