Colombia's Catalina Giraldo chooses euthanasia after assisted suicide denied

Catalina Giraldo Silva, a 30‑year‑old psychologist from Bogotá, suffered severe mental health disorders including major depression and borderline personality disorder. After the Colombian Constitutional Court decriminalised medically assisted suicide in 2022, Giraldo sought that option but faced institutional blockages, notably her health‑insurance provider’s refusal to approve the procedure.

Unable to access assisted suicide, she turned to euthanasia, a practice that has been regulated in Colombia for several years. On 9 July 2026 she received euthanasia at a clinic in Bogotá, stating moments before the procedure, “Quita un peso inmenso.” Her case highlights the legal vacuum surrounding assisted suicide, the challenges of applying right‑to‑die provisions to mental suffering, and has reignited national debate on ethical and regulatory frameworks for end‑of‑life care.

The episode underscores gaps in Colombia’s health system and may prompt the Constitutional Court and legislators to clarify protocols for medically assisted suicide, especially for psychiatric conditions.